When asked why you want to leave a successful freelance/contract career, don’t be honest and respond,
“Well, in the background I’ve got a husband muttering ‘budget, budget, budget’. Honestly, though, the girly answer is that I’m tired of having to buy a new wardrobe every few months. The way one dresses for corporate SF is very different than a game design company on the peninsula.” I did go on to blather about how those are just reflections of a desire for stability, but more than that, I’m excited about their work and would love to be involved. Blah, blah blah.
When asked what your process is, START by talking about needing to know the end from the beginning and design with those targets and goals in mind. Don’t stumble along with, “I always start out sketching on paper. I find I’m more creative that way.”
6 comments:
You crack me up. If all of us could actually be honest in interviews.......
Heh. I like your answers. :) Job search is so nerve-wracking, isn't it?
I hate job interviews. I never know what to say, and it feels to me like bragging. :( Good luck though!
Welcome to corporate interviewing; where they want the corporate answers vs. real life answers. did they ask you about time you took a risk or dealt with conflict?...those are my favorite!!
I once said in a job interview (Editor/Writer for a University president known for his love of pancakes) that I was hoping for some free pancake breakfasts... the women interviewing didn't even crack a smile... so I had to tell them my real reason: I really need a job and I do have a writing degree. Then the ladies snidely informed me that the pancake loving president was actually leaving and the job was for the interim president.
Apparently the interim president didn't love pancakes. I didn't get the job.
If I'm in the hiring position, I think I'd hire people with most honest/creative answers - hopefully your interviewers think the same...?
They did ask me what my toughest design job was. I told them it was the contract job a couple months ago where the design director was a micro-manager. I wasn't lying when I added, "when you ask what was 'toughest' I think more of emotional challenges. I love having to jump off the deep end and learn as I go, for me most design jobs are challenging or exciting, not tough."
Humor can definitely backfire, but they called within two hours to invite me back for a second interview, so I guess my answers worked. Second interview is this coming Tuesday.
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