What I've been up to

I did some practice interviews in Cincinnati about two weeks ago in preparation for the real ones that took place yesterday 5/5. What am I interviewing for, you ask? Well...my bosses job...sort of. I am interviewing to do what he does, but not necessarily his position, although that sure would make the relocation piece easy, wouldn't it? The interview process is what I wanted to comment on.

My company used to do internal interviews by having the individual meet with three different groups/teams of executives. Those executives would ask them a series of five questions (for a total of 15) that sounded something like: Tell me about a time you made a difficult decision. Tell me about a time you gave feedback and it didn't go well. Tell me about a time something went wrong and you found out too late. Then, you'd go home and eventually get feedback.

Now, instead of just one person getting interviewed you go in as a team of two. So, your competition is sitting right next to you! You still speak to a panel of executives, and the questions still are very difficult. At first I didn't think I would like this new process. But it surprised me, and it brought out my competitive nature. Poor guy, yesterday, he didn't have a chance against me. Several times the panel asked him after I gave my answer "if he could top that?" (ouch...) Or, after I introduced myself as a West Point graduate - Eastern KY University didn't sound like much. And when I gave examples from the Army, the warehouse/distribution network, and store experiences his few examples from college and the store didn't add up to much. You know it is bad when after you give your answer, the alternate gives his and essentially could have summed it up by saying, "ditto her."

So how did I do, you ask? Well, I was called back in less than 6 hours by my district manager to tell me I cleared the interviews, but he didn't have any more details for me at this time.

GREAT NEWS!!!