Interview guidance for a company i’m currently working at

[use2betrix]

I’ve been a contractor in my industry for the vast majority of my career (about 13 years). I work in industrial new construction (large plants, pipelines, offshore rigs, etc.). It’s been a great career for me moving up the ladder, and I’m nearly at the top of my respective field.

I’m currently a manager (contractor) for a several billion dollar project. The company I am representing is interested in bringing me into full time employment - moving from a ‘project’ role, to overseeing the global projects division for my discipline.

With that in mind, my current boss asked me to write the job description for a job I’d be willing to take full time. I had the initial “screening” with HR which was the typical run-of-the-mill questions.. Discussed salary, work location, remote work policy, etc. I don’t think anyone else is aware I wrote the description.

On Monday I have a panel interview with my current director and several of his counterparts. Since I’m currently working for the company, understand the culture, benefits, and I wrote the role.. I’m running short on questions to ask. I want to ensure some clarifications on the role (title, reporting, travel expectations), but there’s not a lot more for me to ask.

I typically knock interviews out of the park, so all the ins and outs i’m completely comfortable with, but I’ve also never interviewed in a situation such as this. I feel I could come off as a bit ‘boring’ in the parts of the interview I would take some lead on.. I can ask about the remaining hiring process, future of the division, upcoming projects, etc.

Has anyone else been in this position and do you have some advice? I’m basically a “shoe-in” if I want it, but still want to make sure I impress those other than my boss in the interview (even though he’ll really have the final say).

There’s also the discussion of compensation/benefits, but that won’t be later until an offer comes along and will be a whole different set of questions/issues.. I will likely be taking a 30%-40% pay cut from where I’m at, but will have to draw the line somewhere (I’ll also work less hours, have stability, more vacation, remote work twice per week, etc.)

[lifeisshort123]

I have had a couple interviews as the “shoe in” candidate, though not at the same company.

My comments on this - even though you’re the shoe in candidate, don’t act like it.  Act like you’re interested in coming in and growing in your role, being a full part of the company, etc. be yourself, but make clear how excited you are to move from a contract to a full member of the team sort of role.

When I hire candidates, or sit on a hiring committee the biggest thing that matters to me is people having passion and interest in the specific position.  Since you wrote it, I’m sure that will come easy.  So make clear you’re excited about the position, and specifically that position at this company, and I think you’ll be great to go!

Good luck, and hope you make the decision that is right for you.  Hearing a 30-40% pay cut for what sounds like a promotion seems a bit steep. Depending on your goals, etc.

[Sibley]

askamanager.org is always a good place to check out for interview/work advice.

[use2betrix]

I have had a couple interviews as the “shoe in” candidate, though not at the same company.

My comments on this - even though you’re the shoe in candidate, don’t act like it.  Act like you’re interested in coming in and growing in your role, being a full part of the company, etc. be yourself, but make clear how excited you are to move from a contract to a full member of the team sort of role.

When I hire candidates, or sit on a hiring committee the biggest thing that matters to me is people having passion and interest in the specific position.  Since you wrote it, I’m sure that will come easy.  So make clear you’re excited about the position, and specifically that position at this company, and I think you’ll be great to go!

Good luck, and hope you make the decision that is right for you.  Hearing a 30-40% pay cut for what sounds like a promotion seems a bit steep. Depending on your goals, etc.

Those are good reminders I’ll add to my ‘general notes’ for the interview. Thank you! I don’t think anyone other than my boss knows I wrote the description, so when HR asked what areas might be ‘challenges” and such, I referred to some of the changes in terms of managing on a broader spectrum as opposed to the specific day to day activities on projects.

The pay cut is typical in my industry going from Contractor to a Full-Time employee. The actual hourly rate will probably wind up being within 10%.. The difference is I’ll go from being hourly with 1.5x OT, working 55 hrs/wk with 2 weeks vacation and no paid holidays, to salary at 40-45 hrs/wk, 2 days remote, 4ish weeks vacation, paid holidays, personal days, bonus, pension, etc… There’s a lot to factor in between the differences, but if I can manage even a 40% overall pay cut to what I make this year, that will be good for my industry (from around $410k to $240k).. The job security goes a long ways as well. I currently work a project as a contractor and then i’m unemployed after.

[Chris Pascale]

Go in with an idea for a project you'd like to see about starting or adapting or improving.

You don't have to do it when you get the job (might be the wrong thing to do, after all), but it can go a long way.

[FIRE@50]

I would ask something like, "If I accept this new position with the company, how would you see my role/responsibilities changing?" or "Following the completion of this current project, what do you see as my next initiative?"

[FireBound]

I have had a couple interviews as the “shoe in” candidate, though not at the same company.

My comments on this - even though you’re the shoe in candidate, don’t act like it.  Act like you’re interested in coming in and growing in your role, being a full part of the company, etc. be yourself, but make clear how excited you are to move from a contract to a full member of the team sort of role.

When I hire candidates, or sit on a hiring committee the biggest thing that matters to me is people having passion and interest in the specific position.  Since you wrote it, I’m sure that will come easy.  So make clear you’re excited about the position, and specifically that position at this company, and I think you’ll be great to go!

Good luck, and hope you make the decision that is right for you.  Hearing a 30-40% pay cut for what sounds like a promotion seems a bit steep. Depending on your goals, etc.

Really great advice.  I also would add keep the same attitude always as a current employee as well, but with boundaries.

[lifeisshort123]

I have had a couple interviews as the “shoe in” candidate, though not at the same company.

My comments on this - even though you’re the shoe in candidate, don’t act like it.  Act like you’re interested in coming in and growing in your role, being a full part of the company, etc. be yourself, but make clear how excited you are to move from a contract to a full member of the team sort of role.

When I hire candidates, or sit on a hiring committee the biggest thing that matters to me is people having passion and interest in the specific position.  Since you wrote it, I’m sure that will come easy.  So make clear you’re excited about the position, and specifically that position at this company, and I think you’ll be great to go!

Good luck, and hope you make the decision that is right for you.  Hearing a 30-40% pay cut for what sounds like a promotion seems a bit steep. Depending on your goals, etc.

Really great advice.  I also would add keep the same attitude always as a current employee as well, but with boundaries.

Boundaries are SO important.  I completely agree.  Sometimes people get WALKED all over.  You have to know what you can take, and find a way to politely navigate it.  It isn’t easy, but it is an important skill.

I remember a candidate who applied for a position recently.  I asked her, what would her dream position look like, and what excites her most about the position.

She responded by saying “a flexible schedule”.  That might be how she feels, but it is definitely NOT the right thing to say, especially in the position, which was going to have a very customer-facing role that would not allow for much of a flexible schedule at all (which she knew).

[use2betrix]

Well - had the interview today. It went alright. My current project is going very poorly for the company and when they asked about the issues and my opinions on it, I struggled finding ways to spin the issues into positive items. I didn’t want to give a negative spin. Otherwise, it went pretty well.

Similar to the post above, when discussing the role with my superiors it was clear that this role would involve travel to projects but not long term relocation for projects (I.e. move to a sh**hole for 2 years). However, a HR manager was on the call and mentioned it “could be a possibility” which I’m sure my reaction was relatively clear. I didn’t say too much but when she asked where I would want to be in 5 years I did say my ideal role would have me in a permanent location with my wife and daughter most nights lol. I don’t really care if that’s not what she wanted to hear. If that’s the expectation I don’t want to the role.

After the meeting I met another 30 minutes with a director that was in the interview and I would likely start reporting to. He made it clear that my understanding of the “non relocation” for the position was accurate and HR basically has to bring that up as it’s “always a potential and they have to make the disclosure.” I trusted that assessment which is how I took it. I am very very deep into the FU Money stage, so if things changed, I’m happy to lean back on that. He also felt the interview went great and said I’d be a shoe in, likely to receive an offer in the next couple weeks.

We’ll see what happens. I’m 50/50 that we’ll be able to make ends meet salary-wise but open to the opportunity. If not, I’m just as happy to finish my current project and take a beautiful long sabbatical.

[lifeisshort123]

That’s the best place to be in a job search! Good luck! Glad it went well for you, and happy you have the power to walk away if it isn’t what you want.  That’s always the best place to be.