by Ashley
I feel kind of weird talking about this before decisions have been made – don’t want to “jinx” myself – but I feel like I’m gushing to a friend, so here are the deets on my interview from this morning (interviewing for a managing editor position at an academic publication):
First, I think the interview went really well!!! The conversation flowed naturally, and it felt like I was chatting with old friends (remember – I have met the editor-in-chief a handful of times and was networking with him a couple weeks ago – reminding him who I was and inquiring about the position).
I feel like I impressed them with some of my answers to questions and about my qualifications. Ultimately, I also genuinely believe I would be a great “fit” for the position (and it for me). I love the content area of the journal and the mission of the company. I think my skills provide a unique fit with their needs and that the relationship would truly be a mutually beneficial and fulfilling one.
So the whole interview was great!
And then…..at the very end of the 30 minute conversation (yes, felt more like a conversation than an “interview”), they asked if I was willing to be considered for either of the positions they had posted. They were soliciting applicants for a managing editor (which I applied for), and a “coordinator” (basically an assistant). I don’t really want to do the coordinator role – its less money still, and I think I’m a little overqualified for it. I didn’t want to immediately say “no,” so I told them that I thought I had skills that overlapped both of the job descriptions and I would be great in either role.
Sigh.
Since the interview went so well, I’m almost thinking they may have already had someone in-mind for the editor role, but that the interview was so great that they don’t want to loose me entirely. I’m not sure.
I’ll keep you updated. I have to say, I’ve applied for a lot of jobs over the course of the last year but this was by far the best interview I’ve had. So I’ve got my fingers crossed (and yet, trying to not get my hopes up).
Thanks for all the warm wishes and encouragement!
Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Freshly 40, married mother of two, working in academia. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-digit student loan debt!
Congrats – you did well in your answer. If they filled the editor role, maybe they will recognize your qualifications and change the other role to make it more suited to you.
Thanks for your comment on the last post – salary questions didn’t come up but I think it was really great advice! I hope you’re right about potentially changing the other role (if that’s what the offer me)…it did seem like there was some flexibility and potential for roles to evolve and grow with the company.
you’re welcome. good luck
Even if you get the lessor role, maybe it’s a good way to get “your foot in the door” with that company. Can’t wait to hear what you find out!
I enjoy reading your posts, Ashley. You give great detail and yet a personal perspective that I appreciate. I don’t mean to sound like I’m throwing the other 2 bloggers “under the bus,” but I enjoy reading your entries the most. 🙂
I hope you get the job you applied for and not the assistant’s position. You’re too talented for that, IMHO.
Keep up the good work in debt reduction.
Lori, I agree with you. I look forward to Ashley’s posts. She’s very personable. She said in her post that it seems like she’s gushing to a friend, and that shows; I feel like I could sit & have coffee with her and talk about everything under the sun. : )
JEFFREY – It seems as though we’re back to one blogger. Hope is on a two week vacation, Stephannie is MIA, and Jim is gone (you need to take him off the homepage, BTW). I agree with the other comments from the post about Jim being gone that Stephannie needs to be given a LOA and added back later when things calm down in her life, and you have an opening. That would take the stress/expectations off everyone. And adding another blogger to replace Stephannie & Jim would take the pressure off Ashley & Hope. It seems like Ashley is enjoying posting more than her scheduled day, and I am enjoying reading her posts, but I don’t think it’s right to leave all of the posting to her when the blog was supposed to go to a 4 person format.
Awesome!!!! You should be so proud of yourself!
I’m putting all my hope in you getting the position, but even if you don’t you still strengthened your connection with them from the interview and opened yourself to other possibilities. I guess what I’m saying is you have the right attitude looking at the successful interview as a success in itself.
I think you have done well. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Well done with the interview!
I have no doubt that you know the difference between ‘loose’ and ‘lose’, so I’m going to guess that the instances where I’ve seen you use one when you meant the other (loose instead of lose), were just subconscious typos. (not to nitpick too much, I freely admit that this is one of my pet peeves)
I’ve noticed it in a couple of different articles now. As you’re looking at taking on a managing editor position, I figured a gentle reminder might not hurt. Not the most egregious of errors, of course. 😀
Yikes! Yeah, I haven’t been taking the time to properly edit posts now that the girls are only in childcare two days a week. I also noticed an earlier post where I said “severe” instead of “sever.” Makes me cringe! Thanks for pointing this out!
Congrats on the interview! If they do end up offering you the coordinator role, it may be their way of keeping you with their company until they have an opening that fits you better. It’s great that it went well and that you got along with everyone, so hopefully you’ll be hearing some good news soon!
That’s awesome that the interview went well. I really didn’t feel the interview that got me my current job went well at all–it felt more like a one-sided interrogation. However, guess they liked me well enough. Don’t be discouraged if they’re asking you if you’d be flexible… you never know if there may be another position around the corner that they haven’t finalized.