The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

Yup I have the weekend off. This won't last forever, but it's been nice while I've been on TDY.

We built a similar hoop house a few years ago:




It has worked fairly well although last year something dug under it one night and killed most of the juveniles that were in it.


Girl Duck is laying on rotten eggs, I can smell them. Hopefully she clears out her nest soon.

 

[Wisher1000]

I remember seeing those pics before, it looks great, much more sturdy than mine. I am thinking of using this for all the males I can fit in there. I have ages from three weeks to three years and hope to house them here so I can keep the girls (same age range) in the more secure coop.

BTW everyone - I have a job interview on Wednesday. I REALLY want this job, it will make things easier for my family and make my (eventual) retirement more secure.

Prayers, wishes of luck, good vibes, etc. sent my way, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[vehve]

Wisher, good luck with the interview. Find out everything you can about the employer, if it's in the private sector, look up revenue reports etc. Find out who's interviewing you, and try to learn as much as possible about her/him. Know how much your asking to be payed, and be ready to justify that figure with your rock solid know how and suitability for the task at hand. Be sure about what the job description is, and be ready to tell why you're the obvious choice. Be confident, but humble, and smart, but also a little bit funny. Also be aware of your limitations, and prepare for questions like "What are your weaknesses?". Tell them what you've learned in your previous jobs, and what your hoping to get out of this new job. Use real life examples of your expertise, how you've solved a particular problem you've faced.

And once again, good luck.

*Edit* One more thing, when doing your research on the employer, find out what kind of problems they might be facing at the moment, and tell them how you could be able to contribute to solving them.

 

[Wisher1000]

Thank you, Vehve, all excellent advice.

I am seeking the head of security position at a college. I *think* the interviewer will be a man I rode with on midnight shift 25 years ago. He left my employer and went to work for the college. We had a good working relationship then, and have remained friendly ever since on the half dozen or so times I have run into him.

 

[vehve]

Wisher, then I suggest finding out what kind of security issues they've had in the past, and without throwing the previous occupant of the position under the bus, come up with your own take on them. In that position and in the country you reside in, you probably need to have some sort of views on metal detectors, racial and other profiling, recreational drug and alcohol usage, privacy issues etc. These just from the top of my head, I'm sure you have loads of more ideas.

Also remembering some funny anecdote from way back when with the guy might be useful, but I'd just use it as an ice breaker in the beginning of the interview. Knowing what his former colleagues from then are up to nowadays might be good too. Since you also have a relationship with him, don't be afraid to catch up on his life either, if it comes up naturally somehow.

Also talk about what kind of boss you'd be, and how you would further improve the general mood of the team you'll be leading.

And be ready to give contact information of possible references, they don't always have to be former bosses, for a position with employees some employers might even be interested in talking to a former employee of yours, if you can think of someone who can talk you up in a professional manner.

I'm pretty young to be telling people what to do in job interviews, as I haven't had that much experience at it, but on the other had I've never been to one where I haven't been offered a position.

 

[chickadoodles]

Very nice hoop house Wisher. Love your dog's.

 

[chickadoodles]

I do like your hoop house to SCG that is kind of what I want to make to grow out some turkey this year.

Wisher good luck on your interview sending prayers your way!

 

[drumstick diva]

Wisher love your dogs, especially Biscuit. I used to raise cockers and they never would have been laying down in a stream to cool off or any reason. They had baths and drank out of the water bowls and THAT was the extent of their water relationship. No one would go out in the rain.

Of course I am sending you GREAT interview vibes timed to reach you Wednesday.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Just be prepared that if you put all your roosters in it they will pick on each other!

As far as the job interview goes:
1. Dress professionally
2. Arrive 10 minutes early
3. Bring nice copies of your resume in a nice folder and offer them during the interview
4. Have intelligent questions about the position, the team (if applicable) and the employer available and ask them at the end. Don't ask things that can be easily looked up on the internet - research the company and formulate your own questions. Good ones are always "what is the X year plan for the division and how does this position with with those goals..."
5. Always send a thank you letter after the interview
6. Prepare yourself. Be able to answer (and well) the standard interview questions in a succinct and coherent manner. Practice some "stories" in case they ask you performance based interview questions ("Can you tell me about a time...") that have a good moral and show you in a good light. Be able to critique yourself but turn it into a positive (If I got this position I would need to brush up on X but I can take Y class to do that...).
7. Do not ask about salary and benefits during the interview. Get the job offer first, then start haggling.
8. If your resume or application didn't have references in it, bring them with you (on nice paper in the nice folder) to make it easy on the person interviewing.
9. If you have numbers about things you did (under my management we reduced this by X percent), be prepared to talk about them. We like being able to quantify things.
10. Make sure you don't stink and there's nothing in your teeth.

Good luck.

 

[bamadude]

Howdy folks