[oclug] [OT] Jobsearch 102

[Rod Giffin]

On Sunday 11 August 2002 12:10 am, Robert Echlin wrote:
> At 11:04 AM 8/9/02 -0400, you wrote:
> >100 Interviews, on the other hand works like this:
>
> Hi, Rod
>
> I'm not looking at the moment,
> but I have to ask these questions:
>
> How do you ask for practise interviews?
> I get the impression that most people think you are an idiot, or someone
> who just left school, if you ask for a practise interview.

You're right, you don't normally ask for a practice interview.  The right way 
though is a kind of individual thing, whatever way you're comfortable with, 
if you're comfortable with asking for an interview cold.  The most common way 
I've heard of is just to ask for an interview.  It's just a way to play the 
number's game better.   One other benefit though: If you see it as a practice 
interview, and you're doing the 100 interviews thing, by the time you get to 
interview 100, you will either be more comfortable doing interviews, scared 
stiff, or someone will ruin your game, an offer you a job.  Aw shucks, you 
know?

> Next question:
> "Parachute" talks about doing "informational interviews",
> where you ask people what it's like to work in this industry in this type
> of job.
> Is that what you meant?

Yes, it can be.   The idea is the same.   The theme of What Color is your 
Parachute is how to get a job, but the methodology is similar to what I've 
been saying.  Looking for a job is a number's game, and there are ways to 
increase your odds.  I've outlined one of them.  

FYI if you're an entrepreneur or a consultant, you can try pretty much the 
same thing.  A good friend of mine swears by it.  You meet with a potential 
client, talk about what problems they might be experiencing.  Meanwhile 
you're working on selling him a solution, which you'll tell him about later.  
All it might cost at the low end is a phone call, a bit of gas or bus fare, 
and money for a coffee.  At the high end, it can cost airfair, hotel, and 
beer money, but what the heck if it works, right?  Actually that's prety much 
exactly how Rod Bryden & co. built SHL, and how Ross Perrot built EDS. 

> I tried to do these at my last job search (1998), and actually got one.
> The manager interviewing me assumed it was a sneaky way to get a real
> interview,
> and treated it as a "real" interview, which threw me a bit, as he started
> talking about salary. (No, I am not working there)

The idea is that a resume might get you a job interview, and an interview 
might get you a job.  But it's extremely rare that the resume gets you a job 
on it's own.   This manager was on the ball, and figured out what you were 
doing.  That was not likely why you did not get the job.  They may not have 
been in a postition to hire.  That can happen too.  You can increase your 
chances in a situation like that by sending a thank you letter, and by 
contacting them once or twice to let them know you're still interested.

FYI I did this with a gentleman from Storage Tek one time, in the early 80's. 
 I actually just picked Storage Tek at random from the yellow pages. I told 
him I was a recent graduate, and that I was interested in finding out more 
about what options I had for a career path.   He kind of adopted me.  He did 
not give me a job, but he got me 3 job interviews with his friends in other 
organizations, including one guy named Larry who did hire me - and I ended up 
working for Apple because of it. 

Rod.