OMG OMG OMG *squee* They want to see me in person!

"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling) 07/25/2017 at 19:16 • Filed to: JOBOPNIK

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I don’t delve too deeply into my life in posts here as I know this is an automotive blog, but I’m really freaking out here.

I’m a lot older than most of you that are going on interviews, so it feels weird to be so excited, but this is so much different than any I’ve ever had. I just wrote a long resume, answered a bunch of questions, and wrote a summary/cover letter for a job that I submitted the recruiter yesterday. Today, they emailed me to set up an in-person interview, so I’m going in tomorrow. It’s an interview with a company that I idolized as a young programmer, that fell out of my graces, and that have been working diligently to redeem themselves in recent years. They’re easily the largest company I’ve ever interviewed with and their main campus is about 2 miles from where I live...

I really want this job. I’ve rarely seen a job that seemed more tailor-made for me. It’s what I do so innately that it was hard to even describe my skills, it covers areas that I deeply enjoy (I have volunteered to do these things), it involves periodic travel, it’s an essentially academic environment, and I get to help a team of smart people move the world forward. In a phrase: Dream Job.

Now I just need to make sure I am as polished in person as I am on paper. It’s been 5 years since I last interviewed in person, so I’m nervous as hell.

One of my dream cars for your time:

razorbeamteam > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:22

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Congratulations! Remember your thank you notes!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > razorbeamteam 07/25/2017 at 19:25

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Are emails okay? I don’t know what the correct protocol is here... I have usually thanked interviewers in emails.

razorbeamteam > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:27

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I emailed for my last one and got the job.

Slant6 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:28

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Don’t worry about posting life things here, almost everyone does it.

And congratulations!

E90M3 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:28

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Congrats! I know how shitty job searching can be.

At first I thought you meant you saw one of those on the street. I’ve seen one on the street, but then again I was in Russia.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:36

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Good luck.

Hopefully it doesn’t work out like your dream car inevitably would - rusty, broken in a number of weird ways and virtually abandoned. As a former Lada Niva owner I know this to be true.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 19:46

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Good luck. I just accepted a job yesterday, and it feels good. I’m going from public sector to massive private firm, so different but I’m excited. Now go talk yourself through some interview questions a few times.

Also send thank you emails.

Steve in Manhattan > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 20:04

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I would say show them you value their time, but also yours,

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 20:23

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Good luck friend! :) You’ll nail it!

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 20:23

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Good luck dude!

WilliamsSW > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 21:26

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Email is fine these days - actually better, since they get it in time for it to matter. And especially if you’re older.

- signed, older guy

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 07/25/2017 at 21:33

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It’s just one dream car. Probably don’t want to really live with my dream.

f86sabre > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 22:44

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Have stories that feature a situation or task, action and result. Make sure results have some teeth. “I saved the company 5% on costs”. Depending on how many questions they ask toss in a “I really learned xx in that situation” a few times.

Good luck!

RacinBob > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/25/2017 at 22:51

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Remember, they are looking for someone that is a live wire. If you have experience, you ought to think of

- 3 things you did at work that made a major difference

- one thing in the outside world that made a difference.

- Why you would make difference with them

and finally

Think STAR Situation, Action, Result.

Example - Question - Have ever been assigned to a project that didn’t have the resources to be completed. Be prepared to tell a story of Situation, your action and your result. Chances are if they are using standard interview tools, they will be looking for these elements. Get good at framing your answers that way,

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/26/2017 at 01:38

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You have interesting dreams.

I have some interesting street art. The Niva hasn’t moved since May some time.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/26/2017 at 06:16

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good luck!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 07/26/2017 at 11:24

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That is so sad, my friend. I figured that if I owned a Niva, I’d likely replace the engine with something more common so parts availability wouldn’t be a problem. Always aim to work with parts that are common wherever you’ll be whenever possible. It’s like the danger of driving something Japanese through the heartland in the 1970s-1980s, where you might be stuck for a week or more waiting for a part, while if it was a part on an F-150, it probably would have been replaced in minutes.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/26/2017 at 23:28

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Parts availability isn’t an issue. You could just about build a new one from what LadaPower.com has in stock. Considering they’ve only had minor updates here and there over the years, there’s TONS of stuff available. Even a reasonable aftermarket if you can speak car in languages other than English.

My own issue is I need to replace the trans input seal because it’s puking all over the clutch, but I only have the street to work on it, and I’m pretty sure I’ve been pushing my luck with stuff I’ve been doing to my other rides as it is, let alone pulling the trans.