9 to 5
74 books read in 2011
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Interviewing with former colleague
in 9 to 5
Next week I have an interview with a firm that's a competitor (it's a pretty small industry where you tend to see and hear of others often).
One of the four people I'm talking to was a former colleague and I'm anxious about how it will go. He and I didn't get along (I joined the company more senior to him and I think he was resentful of that) and he was ultimately fired.
Now I have to interview with him and I feel like it'll be awkward. Of course I'll be professional and tell him it's great to see him again, ask how he's been. But I can't help but that we'll both call BS on our working relationships or if he asks how I work in a team - his perspective may be very different from mine and other colleagues'.
74 books read in 2011
Re: Interviewing with former colleague
A few years ago I was recruited for a position at a competitor company in my industry by a former co-worker. When they brought me in they scheduled me for a full day of interviews with various people/groups. Some of the people I interviewed with I had never met before, and maybe 3-4 of them were other former coworkers of mine. One of the interviews was with 3 people: 2 of whom I was meeting for the first time, and 1 of whom I had worked with at my previous company for several years. When they came in the room, the guy I already knew offered his hand & said, "Nice to meet you! My name is (his name here)." LOL. Don't do what he did.
Like you said, just be polite & professional and say, it's nice to see you again, how are things going, etc. Unless he's the one you're going to be working for, my guess is that they will weigh the other people's opinions more than this one guy (like if they all like you, and he tries to sabatoge it by saying something bad or something, I think it will reflect poorly on HIM, not you).
Good Luck!!
I hadn't even considered that he may pretend he doesn't know me!
I think he'd be lower than me - worst case (for me), he'd be a peer. So I don't think there will be issues in that regard. And nothing really tragic happened between us, I think we just both preferred working with other people.
I can't help but wonder if they've already talked to him about me, since anyone who knows his resume would know we worked together. Oh, well -- I also know other people who work there and would vouch for me (I hope!).
74 books read in 2011
Hahaha--the guy who pretended he didn't know me is just kind of a weird/awkward guy (we actually had a great working relationship, I just don't think he knew what he was supposed to do); I don't think that's how most people would react!
If they weren't interested in you they wouldn't bring you in for an interview, so just try to stay positive & focused & GOOD LUCK!
Let us know how it goes!
Although this is a serious situation, I am laughing a little bit because I was in your exact situation 3 weeks ago and I so wanted to post here about it but I didn't think anyone else would encounter a previous co-worker who was fired at an interview like me.. I had the same thoughts as you going into the interview with this person as well.
When I got the email setting up the interview, I looked at the names and my heart almost stopped when I saw the girl who had been fired from my previous work on the list. It's a small world indeed and this job and my previous position are so different, I never thought I'd encounter her again to be honest.
She was fired (with police escorting her out due to the drama) because she had been incompetent for years and everyone had covered up for her. When I started at the place, it wasn't because of me, but slowly things started coming to light for our absent boss and eventually she was fired which was not a pretty process. She was not only very incompetent, you wouldn't trsut her to do anything for you, she was unstable emotionally, always crying at the workplace, and distracting anyone who was getting any work done. Anyway, when I saw her name on the list, and her name is distinct enough that I doubt two of her exist, I did some googling and yes indeed it was her.
I had prepared scenarios in my head of how the first encounter was going to play out and like you I was prepared to be professional and ask how she was doing and what a coincidence to run into her there...
When I got to the interview site and parked, guess what I saw her walking right next to my car and I was like "yeap, I am in the right place!" To be honest, I told myself I can't believe anyone would hire her and I wouldn't trust any data or really anything she touches and mentally I had a lower expectation of the interview than my other interviews if you know what I mean. But I still treated it like a real interview, sent in my thank yous and everything like any other interview. I did follow up with them too and they said they had decided to hire someone internally with more experience in the field.
I know it's easy to say this but really focus on the topic discussed and keep him out of your mind. Focus on why you're a good fit for the position and your qualifications.
74 books read in 2011