i went for a job interview today, it was just on a machine for minimum wage, but i always get really nervous. i started getting nervous as soon as i got into the office with the manager, so i thought "just dont care wether you get the job or not, infact, forget the job. who cares, im not going to get the job anyway, so if you find something interesting just ask this guy what you want to know". so i just kept firing questions at the manager. who do you sell to? which countrys do u sell to? how do the machines create the different products? because i was actually interested in the business. at one point it was almost as if i was already a part of it, thinking about how we could improve the business (i get that alot, i like refining systems and making them work better and more efficiently, if that makes any sense). i was absolutely amazed at one point in the interview when i casually said i thought id got some sort of clinical problem because i cant stand mess at all, and the manager didnt even look at me, but enthusiastically said "i really like that!". it couldnt have gone much better. my only worry is that i came over a bit smarmy and was telling him what he wanted to hear, but it was all just natural and i was saying what i thought, it was quite an experience

You've just described a good attitude to have when interviewing for a job. I know I view candidates favorably that sound confident they can do the work. Finding employees that are constantly looking for ways to refine and improve processes and procedures are the Holy Grail for most employers.

I haven't interviewed anyone in a long time (~12 years). (I'm about to retire and move to the other side of that table...)

I always looked for 2 things minimum:

1. A rational answer to "Why did you get into engineering?" ("because my Dad said is was good money." didn't cut it.)
2. A sincere interest in what WE were doing.

yep, i really got a good vibe from it. hopefully by friday i will know

(crosses fingers)

And now it's Friday ... (drum roll) ...

it is now the end of the business day on friday evening..and no call.

ah well, you loose some, you loose some.

Call them to find out - even if you didn't get the job they should give feedback as to why. If it's fixable you need to know it or it could affect other interviews. Alternatively, they got tied up and forgot to call, impolite but it does happen.

So commiserations or congratulations depending

XavierP, thats an excellent idea, what have i got to loose? gonna call them now...

*edit* i forgot, they finish early on fridays. ill call them first thing tomorrow morning.

thanks for the idea Xavier