I have been at my company (high tech industry in Silicon Valley) for over 10 years. Though it has been a great 10 years, some 'downs' but mostly 'ups', I am feeling like it is time to go to find the next challenge. So I am ready to 'move on' to something new.

I really have been looking to make a move for the last 16 months. Talking to people, getting referrals, and interviewing. These interviews are crazy, I feel like I should be on a psychiatrist's couch on some of them. I remember one job in the past I took, the interviewer (who later became my boss) asked me this: "What would you do if you have a conflict with your boss?" Apparently someone else who had interviewed for the position said, 'no problem, I'd go over his head to the bosses manager' WRONG ANSWER. So, in this process I have been very careful for fear of making a terminal mistake. In some ways you put yourself out there for everyone to see, but in all honesty, hold back a little. It's a little crazy.

Also, trying to assess interviewers on the fly, figuring out their hot buttons, personalities, possible connections that might provide you an edge versus the others interviewing. Like anything in life, some of these people are good (you hit it off with them immediately when you start being interviewed), not so good (They ask tough questions, and you can't assess how your answer was received by them), and bad (talk about themselves, their achievements and don't seem to care much about your interest in the position).

So, now that I have gotten through the interviews, and provided referrals, the waiting on the decision of whether I get the job might be the most stressful part. It seems to take forever. I started this process about 12 weeks ago, it's been very stressful, particularly as the decision was supposed to be announced last week, and it's been delayed again. Initially when I started talking to them it was to take 4 weeks. Now, after the list has been whittled down from 50 to 2 candidates. I wonder, it must be stressful for the other candidate too, right?

So that is my state of mind at the moment. Stressed and very crazy.

Wish you all well.

SD

I think if you've been in the biz for 10+ years you really shouldn't need to interview. Microsoft, Google, and some of the other big companies pride themselves on being hard interviews but do you really think that when they hire a senior exec they have answer those stupid, "how would you move Mt. Fuji" sort of questions? If they can trust their most senior level management to run the company without going through the process why should well qualified and competent staff have to do it?

If after 10 years you don't have the chops, you don't have them. That should be obvious both to them and you. Likewise, if you do have the chops it should be equally as obvious.

I think one of the biggest problems, especially for technically oriented people, is that they don't network enough. The job market really is about who you know and developing a reputation. If you do solid work or exhibit an expertise in a subject area there's no reason why you can't start a blog or attend networking events to get that out to a larger group of people.

Most people only worry about it when they need a new job. You should be worrying about that long, long before you're even looking. It's like branding. You keep investing in building up your personal brand so that when you're ready for greener pastures your reputation precedes you.

One job I was recruited for, they flew me from the US out to Europe and I spent 8 hours meeting with various people throughout the company. At the end of it I was told, "We were already very familiar with you via reputation so you already had the job before you even got on the plane. The only reason we brought you out here was to make sure you weren't an asshole."

Fortunately, I was able to hide that :-)

Luckily, I never had to go through this process in my life but they tried to prepare me for it during my time when I was registered with the unemployment agency. I am definitely with Bill when it comes to qualified people and what I saw in the courses I had to attend during unemployment I see up to a certain degree that this kind of interviews have a reason. Unfortunately, Personnel Departments are not flexible enough to see what candidates they get in. There is a difference between the one who had worked in a company for ten years or more and the one who changes position every six months. There is a difference between those working on a high level and those just being henchmen. But, as with our glorious but only army, institutions tend to have one procedure for everybody because they think it's easier. And I can understand your stress only too good! heads up! I am sure you will make it!

LOL very funny Bill.

Thanks Kaunitz.

I agree with you both, and I REALLY APPRECIATE getting responses from you both.

Hey, it's a 'buyers' market over here in the States for 'The Man'. Too bad, I wish we could everyone, everywhere working. I'm a bit of a dreamer, and I think a bit of a socialist (sorry for the reference to politics, the older I get the worse I can tolerate - too many motherjumpers out there lining there pockets, and not caring enough about solving problems).

Good news, Friday I got the verbal offer. Yahoo!!!