<p>I was just watching kramer vs. kramer and would like to know if anybody has tried his approach during the job interview. For people that haven't seen this classic 70's movie, kramer applies for a job and during the interview he refuses to leave until they tell him yes or no on the spot. I know how stressful the waiting game is these days and I was thinking during my next interview I am going to be stern and ask them if they can see me progress and tell them to give me an answer right there (of course, I wouldn't go as far as to asking them if they will hire me right there).</p>
<p>I am just curious has anybody ever done that and if yes, how did it go?</p>
<p>I would be hesitant to be very pushy - I don’t think employers would like that. Just let the interviewer know if you’re seriously interested in working for the company.</p>
<p>Also, remember to let the interviewer talk a lot! My experience with interviewers is that they love to talk and have you listen to them. My husband is convinced he got his first engineering job by listening to the interviewer talk about his sailboat for awhile! DH had put down “sailing” as an interest, and the interviewer took it from there.</p>
<p>hmmm, maybe it is just the movie world but it seems like interviewers are always very impressed by candidates who have really high confidence (you have to have a lot of confidence to put the interviewer on the spot like that). </p>
<p>Yes, you are right Mainelonghorn. They really love to speak because at almost every interview I have had last couple of months I became really bored and had to fake interest because the interviewer went on and on talking about work, their personal life etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>Good screen drama, but bad real world plan. Also if you are going to do it make sure that you’re talking to a decision maker. Most early round of interviewers are not the decision maker.</p>
<p>If the person interviewing is going to be your supervisor, you’d be sending the message, “I want what I want, when I want it, and it doesn’t matter to me what your constraints might be.” </p>
<p>Would you choose to supervise an employee who rolls that way? I wouldn’t. Even if I didn’t reject you flat-out that day, I’d put you on the very bottom of my list–below even the lazy and the inept.</p>
<p>I guess it all depends on what kinda job you are being hired for…if it is sales, speaking directly to clients, I think the interviewer would like that kind of a personality…but then it might be intimidating too…</p>
<p>I always thought being overconfident is way better that low confidence</p>
<p>I was not going to reply but I have to respond to this … and the approach would generate an immediate response from me … an immediate NO. I would not find the approach intimidating but incredibly immature and showing a total lack of understanding of the companies hiring process. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong … I often am way more open and honest in interviews than is recommended. I see no issue with saying something like … “I know this is my first choice position and will take the job if offered. When do you think a decision might be made? Is there anything we can do to move to a decision quicker?” BTW - this would not be a recommended approach by most either but it light years ahead of making demands of the hiring manager.</p>
<p>I think, if true, it’s okay to say “this is my first choice,” but not to demand to be “told now” (which frankly isn’t even possible with most professional jobs in other than very small organizations). If someone said this I would expect they would be hard to work with/direct. </p>
<p>That line right there is an issue you should work on. You should never become bored in a job interview. When an interviewer talks about his or her personal life, that is a perfect time to make mental (or even physical) notes. You can then bring up those things later - it will help show that you are a real person, and showing that you listened to the interviewer will make a difference.</p>
<p>For example, I had an interviewer tell me that she had come back from maternity leave just a couple days prior. She didn’t make a big deal of this, as it just kind of came up during our conversation, but when I wrote my follow up letter, I made sure to throw in a line that said I appreciate her taking the time to interview me, even though I was sure she would rather be spending time with her son. In another case, an interviewer had gone to my high school’s biggest rival, so I made sure to throw in a line that had a little jab in it (something like “thanks, even though you did go to a terrible, evil high school”) That personal touch made a difference.</p>
<p>As for your idea, it’s not a good one, as others have said. I wouldn’t even say that a company is your top choice … never reveal your hand before you must. Things like, “I am extremely interested” make sense, but saying a company is a top choice gives the company no additional reason to give you an answer quickly and does give the company reason to offer you a lower salary if they do decide to go with you. With colleges, it makes sense for a school to admit someone once they know the student will accept, since it looks good for yield numbers; with companies, there is almost no cost to extending an offer that is rejected, so a company being a “top choice” doesn’t have too much weight.</p>
<p>ChrisW, why do you take everything so literally? When I said I was bored I didn’t mean I started yawning or was sleeping with my eyes open. I just simply became disinterested when the interview was way sidetracked from the topic but still feigned interest out of respect for the speaker.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t agree with writing what they say on the thank you letter to establish connections. I am afraid it would seem a little unprofessional especially the high school thing. Well, it depends on how uptight or laidback your interviewer is as well.</p>
<p>I actually don’t think there is a problem saying the company is your top choice because it might show how passionate you are towards the job and that you really like the company. Unless, you go and say it at every interview at every company you interview for. Then it is being a phony and they might see through.</p>
<p>What’s coming across is that you’re going to do what you want, no matter what advice you get from us. I’m not sure why you asked for our opinions.</p>
<p>Most interviewers will be able to pick up your “feigned interest.” What they say is NOT “sidetracked,” if they’re talking about it. Part of the interview process, maybe even the majority of it, has to do with seeing if you are personable and easy to get along with. THey most likely talk to quite a few QUALIFIED applicants - they want to see if you’re someone they could work with easily.</p>
I mentioned this first so naturally I agree with this. Someone else mentioned the classic advice … never real more than you have to until you have to. Personally, I have resisted this advice. To me it comes from the viewpoint of the negotiation as a contest to win … and that if I share extra information it can be used against me (id I tell them this is my first choice job then maybe they will offer less money or keep me on a string while they chase the superstar candidate, for example). Personally I want the hiring process to be as collaborative and mimic working at the company as possible … I want to to be a joint collaborative effort. Your original thought … demanding an immediate response … is far from collaborative … it’s just another variant of one party trying to win a negotiation … I do not want to work for a company looking to “win” over me and in return I do not want to “win” over the company.</p>
<p>I’ve heard some people say it can be a good thing to say depending on what kind of employer it is. If it’s a company that looks for career hires, and wants people that are passionate about the work they’re doing, this could be a good thing to say. If you’re interviewing to be a janitor at the local 7/11…maybe not.</p>
<p>Girl engineer: my dd graduated in May with her degree in E Engineering. I agree with everyone who says that companies want to see if you fit with their job description, as well as with them as a person. </p>
<p>DD had several offers (4); what comes across in her interviews, she’s been told, is that she is very bright and very pleasant and easy-going. She offers to show them previous college work.</p>
<p>Your job environment is usually composed of a team combination. If you are direct and demanding in your job, and your team is opposite in that way of dealing within the team, then, you won’t “fit”. Confrontation is the last thing you want to “demand”.</p>
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<p>Are you an employer? How do you know this is what they think? Have you ever employed anyone? </p>
<p>I have.</p>
<p>And your need to be “passionate” in this era of hundreds of apps for one job, is misguided because your app will be remembered and put in the “circular file”. Employers don’t have time for game players.</p>
<p>But you won’t listen to this advice because you want to be a Kramer v. Kramer candidate. Agree with MaineLoghorn. </p>
<p>So good luck on going to a LOT of interviews, without offers, because that’s what you’re facing if you continue to insist that your way or the highway is better.</p>
<p>Why won’t they give you an answer on the spot? </p>
<p>They have to
-discuss your interview with department heads and the BUDGET
-discuss other interviewees,
-check your diplomas, transcripts, grades and school references
-check your US employment status, passport (for travel) and security clearances (if needed)
-check your credit rating</p>
<p>“Mr. Kramer, can I ask why you are interested in a job for which you are clearly over qualified?”</p>
<p>Do you think your skills and experience are such that employers will be more nervous about losing you as an employee than you are about losing the opportunity to work for them?</p>
<p>I don’t think that demanding a decision on the spot would work well. For one thing, you have no way of knowing if the person you are talking to actually has the power to act alone in making hiring decisions. That person is not going to admit that to you, the candidate, but by forcing his/her hand, you may essentially take yourself out of consideration. I doubt your skills are THAT overwhelmingly unique that they are going to make that manager jump through multiple hoops to hire you right there on the spot, if company policy dictates a few additional steps are normally taken.</p>
<p>Confidence is attractive in a job seeker, but arrogance is not. Just the fact that you mentioned being “bored” in interviews is not a good sign. Are the interviews really that long that you become bored by your interviewers? If you are unable to find anything remotely interesting about what these people are saying to you (and I say this honestly, not to be rude) then you might want to try too become more interested in the interviewers themselves. Your body language may transmit your feelings of boredom, even if you think you are hiding them. </p>
<p>I realize interviewing is a long, tedious process (for both the candidate and the interviewer). If you try to approach it as a chance to learn about the job and the company, and not just to sell yourself, I think it helps it to go more smoothly.</p>
Everybody who responded saying I should not demand hiring decisions on the spot, please read the quote above from my original post and reevaluate your answers because they are irrelevant. </p>
<p>Also, there is nothing wrong with asking them what they think about my performance and whether they can see me progressing. I have done this a number of times and interviewers were always honest with me and also praised me for asking that.</p>
<p>So now I’m really confused. You’re going to ask about your performance in, and whether they can “see [you] progressing” in…a job you don’t actually have?</p>
Mainelonghorn, what makes you think I am asking for advice. I just mentioned a movie scenario and asked for opinions. opinions may or may not agree with mine and it is not a problem.
Also, I wouldn’t make such generalized statements unless I have witnessed every single interview that has been conducted in the world. I had an interview last month with a very reputable engineering company where one interviewer ( a senior) went on and on criticizing the other interviewer(a junior) for about thirty minutes. At the end he said he is hiring me so he can finally get rid of the other guy (jokingly but with a serious undertone). I was frustrated and “bored” to see how sidetracked they are with their personal disputes from focusing on the candidate. So yeah, people have different experiences.</p>