Job Interview Questions

[Bob Zelin]

are you the perspective employee ? Are you looking for a job ?

You should have a pre-existing idea of what they might be willing to pay. You find that out by “asking around”. Or if you are a newbee, maybe you should not care what they are paying – you just want to get in. It is SO HARD to get in anywhere, that you have to look eager to do anything.

So my advice is to never ask about yourself, and what you are going to get – you want to tell them what they can do for you –
never ask about sick leave, over time, medical benefits, time off, vacation days, etc. etc. “Oh yes masta’
I will work night and day for you, and never ask for any money, I just want to do a great job for you, and work harder than you have ever seen anyone work before” – that’s what an employer wants to hear. And thats what they want to hear from me – not how much I will charge them. You already know how cranky I am, but to a new client (or employer) I am the NICEST GUY anyone has ever met in their life. (“wow, I can’t believe what a great guy he is, and he works so hard !”) – wait till he gets my bill. All clients are a pain in the butt, and you have to learn how to play the game. If you are a valuable employee to the company (or contractor) – you can change the rules, because if they value you – you can do whatever you want. So if you are a VALUABLE EMPLOYEE, and your daughter gets sick, you can just leave and do what you have to do, without consequences. But if you are just another peon, you can’t do anything without getting in trouble.

I always try to convince everyone that I deal with professionally that I am the greatest thing since sliced bread, and that I can do anything – even if I can’t – and then I scramble to figure out how I am going to do it ! Of course, if I am completely incompetant in something (like lighting, for example), I tell them up front that I know nothing about lighting, and I am not their guy.

Remember – it’s not what they can do for you, it’s what you can do for them ! They like hearing that, it makes them feel like they can “pull one over on you”. All you have to do is get in, then you can manipulate your situation. Just get in.

Bob Zelin