From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: sci.research.careers
Subject: Re: Interview Experiences?
Date: 27 Jul 92 12:09:21 CST
Distribution: world, local
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <1992Jul26.051430.1083@cco.caltech.edu>, peri@cco.caltech.edu (Michal Leah Peri) writes:
> maniattb@cs.rpi.edu (Bill Maniatty) writes:
> 
>>Some things to try to avoid are talking about money too early in the interview
>>process (almost never on the first interview), 

Absolutly...  Always try to  1) put money discussions to the very last
and 2) try to get them to make the offer.  If you want to get an idea
of what they are thinking, ask about the salary range for the position.
If they ask you, say that it depends on things like cost of living in
the area, advancement potential, benefits, the requirements of the 
position.  They will usually think that a professional answer and drop
the topic.  If not, give *them* a range. 

>>disclosing your current salary,

If pressed on this, simply give a rough figure.  If you make say 55K,
say "Oh, in the fifties" in a matter of fact way.  If they were thinking
in terms of 50K then you haven't blown anything (if they want you they will
often, after reviewing the other candidates, reconsider the salary that 
they had previously set) and if they were thinking in terms of 65K, you 
haven't told them "Gee, I'll work cheap!" because for all that they know
you may make 59K.

>>your marital plans/status (employers may overlook you if you are perceived as
>>being on the ``mommy track'' and single men are viewed as willing to work longer
>>hours, and are sometimes preferred over married men)
> 
> I thought discrimination based on marital status was blatantly illegal.

Yes, but hard to prove.  Remember that we are dealing with the real world,
not the ideal world.  I have always looked for the best qualified person
for the job, regardless of all that irrelevant crap like what they looked 
like or where they were from or marital status.  It's stupid from a 
business stand point to do otherwise.  All prospective employees are
always warned ahead of time as to things like long or odd hours,
being on call, etc.  The only time that I've had any problem was when
a Seventh Day Adventist applied for a job that required working some 
Saturdays.  He couldn't accept the position...  Pitty, he was real good.   
If *I* had brought up religion, he could have had a case for not being
hired due to discrimination.  He simply told me that he couldn't accept
and his reason.  However, when I was in management, I was the
exception not the rule.

> A prospective employer once asked me if I was married.  I replied "is
> that relevant?" and he dropped the question.

I'm curious, did you get an offer?  I tend to handle irrelevant and 
less that legal questions the same way (unless the answer will be in
my favor) but if I do have to respond in such a way, I usually feel that
the interview is blown...  Hell, I wouldn't want to work for someone like
that anyway! 

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.           
Newsgroups: sci.research.careers