Controller Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 (edited) Got a call last Thursday that I am one of five candidates chosen to interview for a position I applied for. Was told that the Exec. Director will conduct one interview each day, Mon. thru Fri of this week. Decision of who they hire to be made Fri. afternoon or the following Mon. morning. Question: In this situation, would you want to interview first (Monday), somewhere in the middle, or last (Friday)? Why? Edited November 1, 2006 by Controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 First. Let them compare the rest to you and hope they don't stack up. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thursday. You definitely don't want to go first. That's a lot of time for people to forget about how awesome you are. And you don't want to go last. You don't want to be the guy that they still have to interview on Friday (when they're itching to get out of the office) when they've already got a favorite in mind from earlier in the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Love Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I've interviewed dozens of candidates for Dow, the company I work for, and I can't say that order has had any effect. What is important is to make sure that you give each interviewer as much information as possible. I know it will feel like you're repeating yourself, but you'd be amazed at the different perceptions different interviewers can have after interviewing the same person. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 personally, i'd like going last... you leave with the "freshest" opinion of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted November 1, 2006 Author Share Posted November 1, 2006 I was the first interviewee they called, so I've already made my choice But I will wait for more input before I reveal what I chose. BTW, this job is for Controller of the homeowners assocation where I live. The commute would be five minutes, if I walk fast. One minute if I drive. Pay is about $5K more than I make now. But it's a non-profit, therefore no bonuses, no real opportunity for advancement, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 personally i think i would go first, if i felt confident in my ability to surpass the other candidates as far as making an impression or whatever. if i were less certain about that maybe last would be more appealing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeteebee Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Your homeowners' association needs a full-time, paid controller? Wow, that's gotta be big. Personally, I'd go on Thursday. Good luck with the interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I agree with Savage, Thursday would be my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 It doesn't make a difference, but I'd go last....but i would never interview on a Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted November 1, 2006 Author Share Posted November 1, 2006 (edited) Appreciate the input from everyone. When they called last Thurs. my immediate thought was along the lines of what TimC & Az were thinking: I decided to interview on Monday, make the first impression & let the others be compared to me. We'll see if the strategy worked, I guess, if they make an offer or not. I thought the interview went well -- lasted about 2 hours and consisted 1/2 about my experiences and 1/2 about their present situation & problem areas. It probably wouldn't have mattered (if one of the candidates stood out as better than the rest) but if it was a close call (two or more candidates seem equally qualified) the "timing" of the interviews might be a factor. They need a Controller because they are like a "master" association that does the accounting for 19 smaller associations. I think there's a total of about 1900 homes plus a lot of common areas, lagoons, trails, etc. Edited November 1, 2006 by Controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thursday. You definitely don't want to go first. That's a lot of time for people to forget about how awesome you are. And you don't want to go last. You don't want to be the guy that they still have to interview on Friday (when they're itching to get out of the office) when they've already got a favorite in mind from earlier in the week. Good logic but I would still lean to Friday. People just tend to be in better moods on Friday cuz, hey, it's Friday. It's not like he's interviewing Friday at 4:59 PM. They are also somewhat 'worn down' from the whole process and so less likely to drill you as much with questions/etc as the week wears on. Heck my last interview before I took my job I have now, I had a job interview on Fri and they were in such a good mood I got invited to the beer bust after we were done. The interviewer still keeps in touch to see if I'm avail in fact. See liking beer can have advantages you never imagine....anyway... Another thing is how well qualified do you feel you are? The more confidence you have in how you'll stack up, the more inclined I would be to go with later in the week. You'll stick out more. But really in the end I think this is a minor consideration. The one that interviews best is the one that will probably get the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 First, because of something called the primacy effect. People tend to better remember the first "thing" in a list or process or the like than those that occur afterward. There is such a thing called the recency effect, which concerns the last "thing." However, I would avoid a Friday interview. People think differently on Friday, less on business, more about the weekend. I'd definitely stay away from the middle days. People more easily forget things that occur in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House of Pain Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 Just tell em you know me Mike, drop my name and all is good.....If not I will talk to my people out there in the left coast.... and BeeR, tell them f*cks from Cap One to stop mailin me sh*t, I have enough kindling for the wood stove....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 Well, just found out I didn't get the job. If the Exec. Director is telling the truth, I was the "runner up" and will get a call if the person they went with doesn't work out. (They could just be saying this; who knows) So, I don't know if the order of interviewing really mattered or not, but thanks to everyone who chimed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaynfl Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Well, just found out I didn't get the job. If the Exec. Director is telling the truth, I was the "runner up" and will get a call if the person they went with doesn't work out. (They could just be saying this; who knows) So, I don't know if the order of interviewing really mattered or not, but thanks to everyone who chimed in. That Sucks... so for our unscientific poll here, Did you ask which day the "winner" of the job interviewed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Well, just found out I didn't get the job. I didn't want to say this earlier, but the company you interviewed with sucks ass anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controller Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 That Sucks... so for our unscientific poll here, Did you ask which day the "winner" of the job interviewed? Unfortunately, no, I forgot to ask. And thanks, Wiegie, for trying to cheer me up. The company probably does suck ass, but when you're sick of the job you have, everything else looks better, at least for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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