ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 During a interview, when the interviewer asked-"so when would you be able to start? I was asked that question at the interview today and was wondering is that only a question that is asked when they are considering you for the position?
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 That question doesn't always mean that they are seriously interested - it's pretty much a standard question (I've conducted numerous interviews myself and have always asked.) But I want to wish you the best of luck - maybe you will get the job! But why would you need to know that if you were not impressed?
eurocar Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 Not necessarily. It's a question like any other, e.g. "How much experience do you have with X?"; take it at face value. It's a qualifier question and helps them organize their candidates. Of course, take it in context and by inflection... if they're visibly enthused and appear to be asking out of genuine hope that you'll say "next Monday," that's probably a better sign than the almost-clinical way in which they typically pose most of their questions.
lost1607307474 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 But why would you need to know that if you were not impressed? Because the employer might want to choose someone who can start immediately over somebody who can't start for weeks or months. There's a whole lot of things that interviewers have to weigh-up in order to chose the perfect candidate for the job. This is one of them. But I wish you all the best - good luck!
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 Because the employer might want to choose someone who can start immediately over somebody who can't start for weeks or months. There's a whole lot of things that interviewers have to weigh-up in order to chose the perfect candidate for the job. This is one of them. But I wish you all the best - good luck! Plus i hated that they discussed the SEXY parts of the job and I haven't been offered the job yet. Like that I would be able to set my own schedule every week-lol
Stars_n_Guitars Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 they are just wanting to know if they should consider you further for the position. If you can start right away then that's always good! They want to know your availability..that's all. I've let myself believe i was getting the job based on questions i thought were key to a hire...disappointed.
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 they are just wanting to know if they should consider you further for the position. If you can start right away then that's always good! They want to know your availability..that's all. I've let myself believe i was getting the job based on questions i thought were key to a hire...disappointed. well i said immediately
lost1607307474 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 well i said immediately If you said you can start immediately, that's great and the employer will most likely be very pleased with this. This is normally the kind of answer they are looking for when they ask that question. Again, good luck!
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 That's usually what it is. After the interview and during the follow-up meeting with my co-interviewers we usually rank the candidates by experience, skill, etc and then by availability. Also if I really like someone and know that there might be a future availability but they are currently still employed and can be available with two weeks notice, I keep their resume at the top of the pile for the next opening. It's just part of the process I go through but that doesn't mean that everyone else does the same. I also make sure to ask about availability when I am really seriously considering someone. Don't lose hope, I just didn't want you to get too excited. But what wonder news it will be if you do get the job. Again - good luck! oh believe me, i know not to overanalyze a job interview.
Ac143 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 During a interview, when the interviewer asked-"so when would you be able to start? I was asked that question at the interview today and was wondering is that only a question that is asked when they are considering you for the position? I do at least 5-8 interviews a week & this is one question I ask ever candidate - whether I am considering them or not. Do not read that much into it. But the answer you gave does make a difference. Can you believe I had one guy tell me - he can't start until football session is over?? WTH is wrong with people lol Good luck I hope you land the job!
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 I do at least 5-8 interviews a week & this is one question I ask ever candidate - whether I am considering them or not. Do not read that much into it. But the answer you gave does make a difference. Can you believe I had one guy tell me - he can't start until football session is over?? WTH is wrong with people lol Good luck I hope you land the job! Is there a limit to how many questions you should ask the interviewer?
Ac143 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 Is there a limit to how many questions you should ask the interviewer? Every interviewer has different styles & is looking for different things. I dont have a limit I just like when people ask a few questions & seem interested in the company/position overall. I have people go on rants for like 20mins at a time with answers & some ask tons of questions that aren't even relevant to anything (probably nerves) One manager I work with loves long interviews like an hour to 1.5hrs & tons of questions. Mine usually last 30 mins to 45 tops. I usually can tell within the first 5mins how an interview will turn out.
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 Every interviewer has different styles & is looking for different things. I dont have a limit I just like when people ask a few questions & seem interested in the company/position overall. I have people go on rants for like 20mins at a time with answers & some ask tons of questions that aren't even relevant to anything (probably nerves) One manager I work with loves long interviews like an hour to 1.5hrs & tons of questions. Mine usually last 30 mins to 45 tops. I usually can tell within the first 5mins how an interview will turn out. I asked a total of 9 questions, 3 about the company, and 5 about the position and the last question was-"so what is the next step in the interview process?
Ac143 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I asked a total of 9 questions, 3 about the company, and 5 about the position and the last question was-"so what is the next step in the interview process? Sounds like you did just fine asking about the company & postion & the last question...Well done! Keep us posted. You should hear something in a few days! Where I work, we have recuriters & most of our candidates are contractors first so I usually report back to their agency with a day or 2.
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 Sounds like you did just fine asking about the company & postion & the last question...Well done! Keep us posted. You should hear something in a few days! Where I work, we have recuriters & most of our candidates are contractors first so I usually report back to their agency with a day or 2. one question just popped in my head out of nowhere way back from 1999 "so what type of orientation and training do new employees receive?" That's when she said-"training consists of being with me all day for two weeks"
Ac143 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 one question just popped in my head out of nowhere way back from 1999 "so what type of orientation and training do new employees receive?" That's when she said-"training consists of being with me all day for two weeks" Nice, training with the boss for 2 weeks will be fun lol. Its a good question though. That's all she said? She's pretty straightforward huh? That's how I am - I usually give short straight to the point answers. My boss when he interviewed me told stories behind every since questions & answers. I ended up on that interview for close to 3hrs....2.5 of them was him bsing around.
ConfusedDater Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 Nice, training with the boss for 2 weeks will be fun lol. Its a good question though. That's all she said? She's pretty straightforward huh? That's how I am - I usually give short straight to the point answers. My boss when he interviewed me told stories behind every since questions & answers. I ended up on that interview for close to 3hrs....2.5 of them was him bsing around. I didn't get a chance to ask why was the positon open because she told me the person who had the job took a position in another branch. I did find the end of the interview funny, it was two women and one said-"nice meeting you more than once and the one who interviewed me was helping me put on my coat-lol I was like-"what's going on here?
Ac143 Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I didn't get a chance to ask why was the positon open because she told me the person who had the job took a position in another branch. I did find the end of the interview funny, it was two women and one said-"nice meeting you more than once and the one who interviewed me was helping me put on my coat-lol I was like-"what's going on here? LOL that does sound pretty funny. Maybe they were nervous? Everytime my SO has an interview he makes the interviewer nervous cause he's so darn good at them & never has been turned down
Rabican Posted February 5, 2009 Posted February 5, 2009 It tells them how flexible, and responsible you are. If you have another job now, and you say Ill start tomorrow... just lemme call my boss and tell him I quit, that tells them you can/will quit on a whim. If you say, well depending on the hours I could put in some time now, and then work whenever after I put in my two weeks.. thats good. If you say, Im not working Ill start work whenever you need me... thats also good. However, if they totally hated you they probably wouldnt even ask.
ConfusedDater Posted February 5, 2009 Author Posted February 5, 2009 It tells them how flexible, and responsible you are. If you have another job now, and you say Ill start tomorrow... just lemme call my boss and tell him I quit, that tells them you can/will quit on a whim. If you say, well depending on the hours I could put in some time now, and then work whenever after I put in my two weeks.. thats good. If you say, Im not working Ill start work whenever you need me... thats also good. However, if they totally hated you they probably wouldnt even ask. I'm getting a flashback of 1999, after the interview I was wondering for days-"did they like me? Did I get the job? I was stressing out my mom and then all of a suddenthe offer letter comes in the mail-lol
ghost69 Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 Plus i hated that they discussed the SEXY parts of the job and I haven't been offered the job yet. Like that I would be able to set my own schedule every week-lol sexy parts of the job? to your original question - they just want to know your flexibility versus other candidates. does not mean you will get hired.
Ac143 Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 sexy parts of the job? to your original question - they just want to know your flexibility versus other candidates. does not mean you will get hired. My boss uses this term - sexy parts or sexy this or that of a job in an interview. Me and the other managers laugh our butts off everytime he says that lol. Not because of the term itself but the way he says it
ConfusedDater Posted February 9, 2009 Author Posted February 9, 2009 sexy parts of the job? to your original question - they just want to know your flexibility versus other candidates. does not mean you will get hired. Yeah, information about the job that will make you want it more. I don't need to know too much just a little.
ghost69 Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 i wouldn't call it 'sexy'. i'd say 'perks' or 'incentives'.
Ac143 Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 i wouldn't call it 'sexy'. i'd say 'perks' or 'incentives'. Alot of people nowadays use "sexy" to describe those things in an interview, believe it or not. lol. I personally dont use it but yes its nothing new.
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