I survived my 8-hour interview!

[SallyMander]

Just wanted to check in, and let you all know i survived! Your good vibes, fashion advice, and hugs were SO appreciated. :loveya:

The interview went REALLY well, but i won't hear anything for 2 weeks. I did find out they interviewed 5 applicants for this job, so i'm sure i still have some stiff competition. x(


Because you all helped me with my wardrobe decision, i felt it was only right to post a pic of the interview ensemble (geek chic, LOL)...





Thanks again Loungies... you all are the BEST! :hug: :yourock: :hug:

[graywarrior]

1. I'd hire you just for the shoes.

[SallyMander]

4. LOL -- they're boots!

:hi:

[graywarrior]

8. Wicked cool!

Good luck....I hope you get the job!

[SallyMander]

18. Thanks graywarrior!

I'll keep you all updated... probably no news for a while though. :( Oh well, it'll give me time to work on my research i guess!

[zabet]

2. What!???

No full out safari gear?
I am hurt I tell ya!! x(
:rofl:
Glad it went well and
here's to hoping you get
the job.

[SallyMander]

5. Thanks :-)

Hope all's well with you! :hi:

[Ptah]

3. More vibes on the way.

[SallyMander]

6. Awww thanks Ptah!

And what a gorgeous shot! :D

[quip]

20. Wouldn't that be cool if Sally could get a job at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum? Work on that,

Ptah! :D

[SallyMander]

22. Sounds good to me!

:D

[quip]

26. Have you ever been, or heard of it? Actually, it is world famous.

http://www.desertmuseum.org/

One of the coolest places on earth, IMO! :hi:

[IzaSparrow]

31. The Sonoran Desert

is not a real desert :P There is way to much precipitation!

[Ptah]

37. The annual precip is the same here in Tucson as

in the prairie of Montana.

[IzaSparrow]

39. yup...

not a real desert.

[Ptah]

40. Tucson or Conrad?

:shrug:

[IzaSparrow]

61. Tucson

[quip]

64. Rainfall isn't the only metric for an area to be labeled "desert". Most people wouldn't consider

Antarctica a desert, but technically, it is. :think:

So don't be raining on Tucson's desert parade! :crazy:

[IzaSparrow]

91. right...humidity and temperature are the factors for designating

a desert.

I'm only messing with you because, during my graduate work, I developed a "desert snobbery" since we worked on animal physiology of birds in the Arabian Desert. We would joke about "real deserts" and "wannabe deserts."

We said that those in the US weren't real b/c they weren't hot enough, dry enough, or big enough.

Cheers to living without water! :toast:

[quip]

92. I know about desert snobbery!

Tucsonians are desert snobs when the comparisons with Phoenicians come up. Tucsonians are like Dems, and Phoenicians are like Repukes. You guys would love Tucson-- it's a great town! :toast:

[SallyMander]

44. I have heard of it!

I have a friend who studied tortoises out there -- sweet! Never been there though. Maybe if the road trip honeymoon could be about a month long we could make it... :think:

[Ptah]

27. Are you actually encouraging immigration?

What is wrong with you?

[quip]

41. We are talking about Sally and Iza! Besides, they wouldn't be immigrating, just

migrating. :D

[lost-in-nj]

7. hey

:yourock: :yourock:
how did it go????


lost

[SallyMander]

11. Thanks lost!

I am SO exhausted... i've never talked so much in one day in my life!!! I met with individuals and groups all day, and said many of the same things over and over... but i think i did a good job explaining all my ideas, background, qualifications, etc. I don't think there's anything else i could have done to be more prepared, so that's a good feeling. At least if i don't get it i won't be wondering what else i could have done... it'll just be that they had someone else older and more qualified!

:hug:

[Flaxbee]

32. that's a great feeling to have - that you gave it your very best

I hope you get the job!!

Good outfit, too. Did you feel like you 'fit in', clothing-wise? Happy with your choices?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear SallyMander!

You are beautiful!

And I love your clothes!

Good vibes on the job, sweetie!

:hug:

[SallyMander]

12. Thanks Peggy!

That's so sweet :blush:

:hug:


I'll let you all know whenever i hear!

[VenusRising]

10. Yay!!!

I thought about you a lot today.

Can't wait to have you back here for awhile.

:hi::hug:

[SallyMander]

14. You're the BEST

I'll have to tell you more about it whenever we catch up at a coffee shop! :D

SUCH a long day... i'll probably crash out soon. But your thread gave me such a boost last night and today. :hug:

[VenusRising]

16. You deserve a rest.

Safe trip home. :hug:

[SallyMander]

24. OK... you convinced me

Hittin' the sack now. :)

Talk to you soon... :loveya:


:hug:

[VenusRising]

30. G'night, sweetie.

Sweet dreams.

:hug::loveya:

[SPKrazy]

13. Uhm geek my ass!

:hug:

you look awesome

glad the interview went well

I'd hire you...

of course I don't own or work in a zoo...

:P

You could do experiments on people :P

;)

[SallyMander]

15. LOL, thanks SPK!

I don't think people are a species of conservation concern :rofl:


Hope you're doing well sweetie :hug:

[SPKrazy]

17. well, we could find out how they could be conserved

or not... :P

I'm okay

you?

:hug:

[SallyMander]

19. Pretty good

Just TIRED... heading to bed in a minute. What a looooong day. And i have to get up at 6:30 for my flight back to Columbus. But then i am going to have a nap! :D

[SPKrazy]

21. well you deserve it

where did you go for the interview?

[SallyMander]

23. Philadelphia

The position is a research biologist at the Philly Zoo. It would be wicked fun! :bounce:

[HERVEPA]

93. Contray to W.C. Fields notion, Philadelphia is a great city.

[ThomCat]

25. I'm so glad it went well!

:woohoo:

Let's hope we all have reason to celebrate in two weeks! :toast:



I liked your other Salamander, though. :(

[SallyMander]

45. Thanks ThomCat!

I'll keep you updated! :bounce:

Several other people have said they preferred the old 'mander... maybe i'll bring her back later today. :D

[stuntcat]

28. This sounds (and looks) Great!

I'm positive the collective will of loungites makes a difference but I bet you rocked the interview without our help :headbang: :hug:

[SallyMander]

47. Hehee... i hope you're right!

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :hug:

I can't think of how it really could have gone better -- i'm just worried that those 4 other people are older and more experienced than i am. Oh well -- i did my best! :)

[Gonzo Gardener]

29. You look MAHVELOUS!!!

(in my best Billy Crystal accent):loveya:

I want to hear all about your interview!!! :bounce:

[IzaSparrow]

33. Absolutely Mahvalous

[Gonzo Gardener]

36. Take her out to celebrate when she gets home!!!

:party: :toast: :party:

Consider it a practice run for when she gets the job!!!

[IzaSparrow]

62. I gotta work most of the afternoon...

so we'll have to settle on a late dinner.

[SallyMander]

49. Thank you dahling!

I am up early and about to head to the airport... so more details to follow. Basically i was meeting with individuals (VP, Curator) and then small groups (other curators, keepers, vet staff, finance people, etc) ALL DAY! I had a bunch of research ideas prepared that i shared with them, and got the usual drill about my background, "do you work well with others," etc.

So far so good... now time to wait and see!

:hug:


:loveya:

[IzaSparrow]

34. You have REALLY long hair!

How long have you been growing it? hehe

[SallyMander]

50. Haha... all my life!

I'm at the Philly airport now... i may not make it home. Apparently they oversold the flight and i no longer have a seat. :cry:



Edit -- some wonderful lady volunteered to be bumped, so i should be getting on the plane soon! :bounce:

[puerco-bellies]

35. Holy smokes, 8 hours..

That's got to be a good sign. I'm crossing my fingers for you.

[SallyMander]

51. Thanks puerco-bellies!

They interviewed 5 people, a full day each... :scared:


:hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. You look great!

I hope you get the gig! :toast:

[SallyMander]

52. Thanks GoG!

And the great thing about that jacket was, i was WARM! :)

:hug:

[Pale Blue Dot]

42. BTW, if you get the job,

my son and I, and possibly more, are coming to see you.

My son's been to the zoo camp there 3 times and is still entertaining the possibility of becoming a zookeeper someday. He seemed very excited when I told him we might have an "in" there soon....

Good luck!!! :D

[SallyMander]

53. Absolutely!

Now i just have to get the job. :D

:bounce:

[KitchenWitch]

43. You look fantastic!

How did you feel afterward?

[SallyMander]

54. Thanks KW!

I felt totally brain dead by the end of the day! And my throat hurt, LOL. I went to dinner with a friend and a bunch of her friends, and i felt totally antisocial because i was just sitting there like a lump. The synapses just weren't firing any more. :P

:hug:

[Inchworm]

46. You look marvelous enough to hire, indeed!

Vibes for the rest of the way!

:yourock:

[SallyMander]

55. Thank you Inchworm!

:hug:

[lizziegrace]

48. Geek chic?

It's perfect. You look great. My ex is a college professor and most of the interviews at that level are at least 2 days. Sometimes 3.

Glad it went well and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Oh, and you *did* tell them you have to do the job long distance? We won't let you and Iza leave Columbus...

;)

[SallyMander]

56. Thanks lizziegrace!

I'll keep you updated... the nice thing is, it sounds like they're a bit flexible about the start date. So if i got it, we might not have to move until after the wedding in the fall. *Phew*

Are you moving??? Where to?

:hug:

[lizziegrace]

57. Looking at a condo

in New Albany.

2 minutes from our new offices and less rent. Heat is natural gas, so I don't have to worry about freezing all winter long.

E and I might be meeting tomorrow for coffee. Interested?

Let me know. :hug:

[SallyMander]

58. YAY

for an easy commute and actual HEAT! :bounce:

I sent you a PM -- coffee sounds good! :D

[TZ]

59. Glad it went well

You look totally casually professional btw, love the jacket btw.
One thing I seemed to have missed though..what zoo was this you interviewed for?:blush:
And if you get the job I may very well have to visit you...One of my favorite classes in college was Zoo Biology taught by some really cool people from the National Zoo....

[SallyMander]

66. Thanks turtlensue!

I was interviewing at the Philadelphia Zoo for a research biologist position. I would LOVE to get the job and then i would LOVE to have you visit! :D

:hug:

[Sanity Claws]

60. Thanks for telling us how it went

I bet you wowed them. Good luck!

[SallyMander]

67. You're welcome!

Everyone here has been so supportive and wonderful... i'll let you know how it turns out. I feel like i did the best i could, but i'm not totally confident about it because i'm sure they had other really good applicants! Oh well... we'll see!

:hi:

[RainDog]

63. You look great!

I have to ask you about interview questions. Did you get the one "Where do you see yourself in five years?" - or "What is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?" or "What were the most annoying parts of your previous position?" _the answer, of course, is nothing. Never say anything bad about anyone who ever employed you, even if that person went into a phone booth before work everyday to don his/her "Super Asshole" costume.

I think these sorts of questions are really funny because who is going to tell the truth for any of them?

I've had the thought that it would be fun to go into an interview and when you get a question like that say... You know and I know that everyone who comes in here could lie to make themselves sound good, and no one in her right mind is going to tell you something true... but I won't.

If I had the option to hire you, I would. Best to you!

[SallyMander]

68. Thanks RainDog!

I didn't get any of those specifically -- a lot of "tell us about your background, and how it prepares you for this job," that kind of thing. One of the keepers actually joked about the "where do you see yourself in five years" question. He said he can't stand that one so he wouldn't ask it. :D I'd prepared a bunch of research ideas, so much of the time was spent going over those, and answering questions about specifics.

I talked with my dad beforehand about what he asks people (he runs a construction business)... he said he likes to come up with wacky questions like "what was the greatest moral dilemma you've faced in your career, and what did you do about it?" That would be a tough one!

:hug:

[av8rdave]

65. Good to hear....hope you get some great news in a week or two!

[SallyMander]

69. Thanks a lot!

I'll let everyone know either way... hope it'll be good news! :D

[hippywife]

70. Welcome home!

Glad it went well, sweetie. The outfit looks perfect, too.

I wish I could go out for coffee with Lizzie, Sally, and Venus! :cry:

[SallyMander]

75. We wish you could too!!!

You know it's a plan next time you're in Ohio! :hug:

[hippywife]

86. Definitely!

If you're still there!

[SallyMander]

89. Probably wouldn't start until the fall

to give me some time to finish my PhD. I keep hoping the dissertation will write itself, but apparently it's not going to... :P

:hug:

[Pavulon]

71. Hey Congrats

The best hiring managers should not care how you dress. 8 hours is a pretty long interview process. I assume they bounce you from person to person and ask you random questions.

If you don't mind me asking, what type of job were you interviewing for?

[SallyMander]

76. Thanks Pavulon

Yup, they had me set up meeting with individuals and small groups all day. The job is for a research biologist at the Philadelphia Zoo. It would be a total blast! :D

[Pavulon]

90. That would be great!

Finding a job in a field you enjoy is worth so much.

A quick google reveals a nice collection of tortoises and turtles in philly.
As a keeper (captive bred) of turtles and tortoises I think that would be cool to study those guys. Such questions as is the chicken factor ( the time it takes a basking turtle to jump from its log once it has recognized you are there) learned or genetic may stump the ages..

Good Luck!

[RetroLounge]

72. You look great!

Best of luck on the job.

Another reason to come to Pennsylvania!

:yourock:

RL

[SallyMander]

77. Hehee -- thanks Retro!

Philly seems like a cool city -- lots of history, lots to do, and BLUE! So that's always a plus. :D


:hug:

[Sugar Smack]

73. w00t!!11#!!!!! You so beautiful!

I love the getup, and I'll bet you just plain'long kicked butt at the interview. I'm cheering you on every step of the way.:hug:

[SallyMander]

78. THANK YOU sweetie!

I'll let you know how it turns out... what kind of trouble are you getting into this weekend? :hug:

:loveya:

[IntravenousDemilo]

74. You'll be wanting a throat lozenge about now. At least a glass of water. And a bathroom break. n/m

[SallyMander]

79. You are so right

I was popping lozenges all last night... and this morning i had a big cup of tea with honey.

My throat still feels kind of scratchy though -- i should have done some "warming up," you know, talking for 4 hrs straight, then 5 hrs, then 6... :rofl:

[Redstone]

80. EIGHT HOURS for a job interview? Are you applying to be the Pope or something?

It just seems like an awfully long interview.

Redstone

[SallyMander]

81. BWAHAHAH

:rofl:

I would make a lousy Pope, i'm pretty sure. ;)


It was for a research biologist position at the Philadelphia Zoo -- and i was EXHAUSTED by the end!

[Redstone]

82. Forgive my poor memory - that was you posting recently about a job at a zoo? I think I'm

jealous now; not only do you get to work at a zoo with all those fascinating critters, but you can get a REAL CHEESESTEAK HOAGIE any time you want one!

(Though from your picture it's clear that you don't make a habit of overdoing it with the hoagies.)

Good luck to you!

Redstone

[SallyMander]

83. No worries, Redstone!

It was me, unless there's another Lounger competing for *my* job! :D


If i get the job and you're ever in Philly, i would be THRILLED to give you a tour and take you out for a hoagie!

(And that's saying a lot because i'm an herbivore! ;) )

:hug:

[Redstone]

84. I used to live down there (Montgomery County), but haven't been in the city since 1980.

I probably wouldn't recognize the place, so I'll take you up on your generous offer of a tour some day...and hey, most places also make vegetable hoagies (or at least used to). I'll buy.

Redstone

[SallyMander]

87. That would be a blast!

Yet another reason i want the gig. :D

[cordelia]

85. 8 hours? God almighty!

That would've killed me.

Good luck.

And you look fabulous. You wear that shade of green very well.

[SallyMander]

88. Thanks so much cordelia!

It was REALLY long... in fact i just took a 2 hr nap, i think i'm still recovering!

Off topic, my parents have a boat named Cordelia -- "jewel of the sea" -- such a pretty name! :D

[Whoa_Nelly]

94. You look so zoological!

Have a feeling you will get the job! :bounce: :thumbsup: :bounce:

[SallyMander]

95. Thanks sweetie!

I hope you're right! Will keep you updated... :hug:

[Metta]

96. If it's in your best interest to get this job, then so be it.

Best regards in any case. Now it's your job to give it up so what you put in motion can work without your attention/expectations/fears/holding it from going forward, if you don't already know to do that.