Job Interview Questions/Great Answers (Part 10)

Yet one more scenario:

Well-run company employee (you) applying to one fouled-up employer (but with potential). Would they consider you?

The story and your script

Recruiter asks:

• “Your resume emphasizes that your present employer is doing well, is nicely organized, people understand their job-parameter limits, compensation plans are in place, and the company has been growing steadily over the last several years. In other words, it sounds like a well-oiled machine.”
• “I wish we could say the same thing. I have to tell you we are in a volatile market currently in a down cycle. We recently have had a lot of turnover but are now stabilizing. That’s why we are looking for someone. Our job descriptions are out of date, and we are emerging from bankruptcy.”
• “We feel the company’s future is very good. We have bottomed our and are now looking to grow. But there is risk. I want to be sure you understand we have to redesign the company to fit our changing marketplace. The person we hire will have a job title; but s/he might have to do many things not normally part of such a job. We want someone who can contribute and not immediately look for another job. In short we want someone who can operate in a bit of a chaotic situation.”
• “While your technical background seems appropriate, we have found that many people with great credentials don’t do well with what might be seen as ‘seat of the pants’ management style. This is especially true for someone whose work background is from an already-ordered work environment.”
• “So three questions I would like you to address.

1. Is this what you want or would this environment be inappropriate?
2. Why should we consider you vs. someone whose background is closer to our current state of restructure?
3. Finally, why are you looking for a job with us?”

You:

• “I appreciate you candidness. I am more used to talking with recruiters who gloss over risks, and tell me of the great opportunities, golden future, great morale, etc."
• "Let me give you my take on the situation. You asked a candid question; I will give you a straight answer.”
• “It is true that an outsider looking at my present company might see a disciplined workplace on a predictable growth path. However, it is not that predictable. Every group looks to its own goals and has demands for scarce resources. My group is now fairly well organized and the market looks good.”
• “I am considering other opportunities because for me things are getting a little boring. My job is pretty well defined, as are the others at my present employer. I like a situation where I can, once I show that I can handle more, feel the ‘more’ is achievable, as circumstances permit.”
• “I can do the job you want, and much more. I can bring what I have learned and created to bring controls to your problem environment. You may feel your unstructured workplace is good. I can agree - for now. I thrive in an environment that will allow me to achieve and grow without structured barriers of hard job descriptions and turf protection.”
• “I see your self-described chaos as a means to show you I can handle emergencies and grow along with you. Frankly, I would rather work in an organization that is declining or at the bottom than one that does not have a lot of challenges.”
• “Far from a detriment, I think my experience is what you need. Hiring only people who with experience confined to another screwed-up workplace is not a good formula to work your way to a well-run organization with controls. ‘Seat of the pants’ management style, as you called it, can be fun, for awhile. But to grow, a company needs people who can help build an organization that is not totally dependent on one person.”
• “I can do that. Your environment is what I consider ‘fun’ because it has not yet settled down to a discouraging ‘change-resistant’ structure. And that is why you should hire me.”

More scenarios next hub.

Maybe one of these scripts will fit your role as principal player in this job-finding world of theater.

End of job interview Q/A (Part 10). See you next hub