OT - Career Advice Please - After the Interview...

I interviewed for a new job today that me and my family really need. The interview went great and the interviewer dropped some very encouraging hints. For example, I asked him if he had a time frame in mind for making a hiring decision and he didn't commit to anything but said "let me put it this way you're the only one I've asked to take the (in-depth technical skills evaluation) test." I was actually laughing while I was taking the test. Have you ever studied for a mid-term or final, gotten in there and just knew every answer? Yeah, it was kind of like that...

So I'm very encouraged because it has been a long drought for me and this actually seems like a very good company to work for with a level of professionalism that I have rarely seen in my industry (landscape construction and maintenance).

Now I need to close the deal, the interview went well, I'm sure the test went well, and now I want to do everything in my power to turn this into offer - without coming on too strong. I'm planning on sending a thank you letter that highlights some of the skills I have that we didn't get around to discussing and how they would apply there. Any other unique or creative tips???

On a side-note, but on the topic of WLS - I didn't bring up anything about my WLS because I didn't want to create a potential HR discrimination issue for them, but I really wish I could have explained how much more productivity I am capable of NOW that I'm not 300 pounds. I wanted so badly to tell him how much harder I used to have to work physically just to keep up with the rest of the guys and ask him to imagine how much better I can do know, but of course I didn't go there...do any of you guys have any thoughts on that?

I know you want to shout it from the rooftops. DON"T. Employers look for excuses not to hire and if there is a chance their rates would go up it could cost you the the job. It really is not their business if you had surgery or not. I'm a jaded person when it comes to employers though

I agree with Snickle on this one.  Just send a nice thank-you letter and remind them again of your qualifications.  Good luck.  Hope you get the job.
Steve

A brief thank you note for the interview would be nice, but I would leave it at that.  As someone who conducts employement interviews on occasion, I can tell you nothing is more annoying than someone who calls everyday after the interview to "touch base" or "get an update".  I also wouldn't mention the gastric bypass, for sure not BEFORE an offer has been made.  WLS is something most people don't fully understand unless they've been through it.  Best of luck to you!

I know how you perceive WLS but unfortunately not everybody does, I believe its one thing better left unsaid. Show interest but not over the top needy. They've already have the opinions made up they are either impressed or not by now. My guess if they moved you to the n ext level they are interested, don't jinx it now. Best of Luck C'ya Bob

good job man,

i just went through the same thing and got the gig! believe me, there were tons of applicants being LA and all. I leave for the east coast on sunday to start training for two weeks. i'm still stoked so i know where you're coming from. please don't divulge the wls thing. it isn't appropriate and it's just ammo. wait until later if you feel the need to tell people once you're employed. yeah, send a thank you for your time letter but keep it simple and say you can't wait to apply your skills and add your contributions to the company. don't make it wordy, just professional enough that you even thought to follow up with a thank you note.

in my case, the company called me when i first applied then didn't pick up the phone to return my calls. this after they called me 9pm their time to talk! i left a ton of messages. when they finally flew out to talk to prospects i met the guy who left the original message. i apologized to him for filling up his voice mail. i said i was just excited. he said it was he who should apologize. they liked the fact that i was tenacious and kept bugging them. that's what they wanted! so play it the way you feel is right. i thought i was over the top and i would have hated that too as was mentioned by another post, however, i really wanted the job and had to knock out a ton of people to get it. when they called from back east to make a formal offer the boss said, hey look, don't be showing up on my doorstep ok? we'll tell you when to come out......lol. they had a good laugh at my expense that i was so excited. i would rather have that than them thinking i wasn't all worked up. so keep the enthusiasm but temper that with the fact you probably might not get the job. we don't always get what we want. i'm just telling you it happened to me so maybe it will happen to you. i love it when i win sometimes! good luck and let us know what happens.....carbonblob

Any special meaning behind Charlie da' FISH there CB?? You're a sick puppy, my man! 

Boner

paul, who can't post here anymore dreamed it up for me to use. you get the meaning. a slap in the face. we're now demoted to using symbols since it seems taco boy will run in here and delete whatever ruffles his girly feathers. not a woman hater, just fighting back....carbonblob

Comment on the interview...on the business....on your skills. Your surgery is your personal business and does not belong in any conversation regarding possible employement.  This year I had my rating/evaluation by my boss who knew me prior to my surgery.  He told me that I am not the same person that I was that I don't have the direction or confidence that I had before.  He continued to say, I don't know if it has to do with your weight loss or not, but your work attitude is different, not what I expected.  I stopped the meeting on the spot and said...that my weight loss has nothing to do with my job and that my weight loss was my own personal business and it didn't not belong in the professional conversation. I told him that the problem that I have is that I have no direction...no focus from administration.  I can't go anyplace unless you tell me where to go...