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RE: Side note to "Ethics of job-interview testing"
Subject:RE: Side note to "Ethics of job-interview testing" From:eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 1 Jun 2004 17:41:45 -0400
bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com wrote on 06/01/2004 05:33:21 PM:
> I, OTOH, use it to explain that I'm doing
> exactly what I want...I just want to do it better and better.
I never answer the question directly. It's like the 'expected salary'
question. It's lose-lose for the interviewee. Too low, you'll get an
non-negotiable lowball offer, too high, they'll remove you from
consideration.
With the five year thing, you're likely to answer "I'm fine with being a
writer" to someone looking for 'go-getters' or "I want to be project
manager" to someone who's offering a position from which there are no
promotion paths. In either case you are no longer considered for the
position. The reality is that *I* want to determine if the position fits
*ME*. I don't want to give them a reason to disqualify me. The reality of
the five year question is that companies that tout initiative and drive
usually don't promote the policy once you're past the hiring stage and
once you're in you'll be judged on performance anyway. Companies that
think that the position is dead-end may not realise the possibilities you
might uncover, nor do I think they have the right to decide what I want to
settle for.
My absolute MUST question for an interview "Where did the last person who
held the position go and why?" The answer and how they give it will tell
you VOLUMES about the work environment and policies. Or, they might just
be really good liars. ;)
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