Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Jobs for Al

I mentioned the week before last that I was putting in a job application for a job that closed last Monday. Well I heard from them today, they want me to come in for an interview next Tuesday.

I am simultaneously pleased and nervous. Pleased because it is a job I would like to get and it means I am pitching at about the right level.

But I’m also nervous because I haven’t had a job interview for a few years and I tend to not do too well when I haven’t had an interview in a while. Like anything job interviews are something you tend to be better at with a little practice.

Fortunately, both Deb and I have both interviewed many, many people over the years to fill various jobs so between us we are usually fairly good at working out what kind of questions I’ll be asked.

Did I say I am nervous?

I have also put two more applications together. One is again in a roughly related field in a behind the scenes management role. I’d quite like that one too but not quite as much as the one I’m being interviewed for on Tuesday.
The other was one Deb suggested, it is heading a small policy unit in a Government Department.

To be totally honest I’m not quite sure if I would enjoy it but: I fit the selection criteria; I don’t loose anything by throwing my hat in the ring; and the pay looks to be way better than anything comparable in the community sector.

What do you think? Al the Public servant?

Anyway Tuesday first. If I do well I will land the job I want.

Now a couple of piccies from my archive.

Both of these were taken in the coastal heath at North Head in Sydney a couple of years ago.

I have to confess that I have no idea what the trumpet shaped flowers are. They are tiny, each ‘trumpet’ about an inch long.

I am fairly sure these are a species of Melaleuca.
Which doesn’t help much because Melaleuca is a family with hundreds of species from small shrubs to large trees.

The 'problem' with Aussie wild-flowers is there are literally 1,000s of species. Very pretty, but a non expert like me often has very little idea of what I am looking at.

As a by-the-by, I have occasionally been in the bush with botanists who have said, 'Errr not sure what that one is.'

18 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Al .. Good luck with all the choices - practice makes perfect at interviews ..so they say! Delighted you've got interviews .. more than many.

Your trumpet reminds me slightly of Grevillea .. but am sure it's not of that species .. or Banksia .. perhaps someone will tell us - pretty though.

Cheers and enjoy the process - Hilary

Anne Gallagher said...

Best wishes and all the luck you need, with whichever job you want. I know you'll ace the interview.

Great pics. Love the purple fuzz ball.

Anonymous said...

Good luck for your Tuesday interview, Al. It's a help to have a few 'nerves' at interview, I think.

The trumpet shaped flower is exotic and it amazes me that it grows in the wild. It is wonderful that you have such a rich variety of species in Oz.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Best wishes on the inerview next Tuesday, Al! Just be yourself. It sounds like it's a job you are really interested in, let that shine through....

Lovely pics as always. :)

Sarah Ahiers said...

You can do it!
Don't be nervous - i mean, what's the worst thing that could happen? You don't get the job. Yeah that sucks, but it's not the end of the world. Just keep casual and i'm sure you'll get the job!
Good luck!

Old Kitty said...

Yay!!! A job interview!! GOOD LUCK!!! I think it's great and I wish you all the best and I'm rooting for you!!! Of course you'll do great too!!!

Al the public servant? Why not?!?! You never know!!!

The Melaleuca (what a name - my tongue's all knotted just trying to pronounce it!) is gorgeous!! So is that red flower!!! Yay!! Feels like spring! Take care
x

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the interview, Al. We're all rooting for you.

Sage Ravenwood said...

Fingers crossed the job you want comes through for you. (Hugs)Indigo

Hart Johnson said...

Good luck on that dream interview! See if some experienced friends will give you some practice interviews this weekend. And I think government work can be fine--totally depends on the coworkers. I've worked for the state and loved it, but it was because my work group (and the job) were great, so we could ignore the red tape. Benefits were also a lot better than a lot of comparable jobs, but Australia may not have the same trouble or concerns there.

Theres just life said...

Al good luck on the interview. I hope you get the one you want. I am always nervous before an interview. Probably because I have had so few in my career. Fortunately I was usually the one approached about the job. Unfortunately that when I had to get a job myself, I stink at interviews. That being said I wont give you any advise, except be early to the interview, and look like you already belong there.

Jemi Fraser said...

Good luck with the interview - I'll be crossing my fingers for you! :)

Heidenkind said...

Good luck!

Kristen M. said...

My husband is also looking for a change right now and I have to remind him of just what you said -- it never hurts to try for a job even if you're not sure you want it. The other thing I always ask him is "is it better than what you have now?" Always a useful question!

And I'm an awful botanist. I wonder if I should take a course or two sometime.

Ninon Nickerson said...

Hey...GO for it! Go for both jobs and just be yourself. I get really nervous too. If the job is supposed to be yours...it'll happen. If you can be yourself in the interview then you'll be able to be yourself at the job and with the people and work "after" is what is important. BEST of luck!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

good luck on your interview!

Great pics of some aussie flowers :)

Natasha said...

Good luck, Al. I believe in Destiny- I am sure you will get the job that is best for you, even if you don't know which one it is just yet.

Misha Gerrick said...

Hi Al! I hope your interview goes well. (Praying for you.)

Those plants remind me of Cape Fynbos... Also thousands of varieties.

:-)

Al said...

Hi Hilary,
Thank you!
I don’t think the trumpet is a Grevillia, but I could easily be wrong, they are a very diverse family.

Hi Anne,
Thank you!
The fuzzball is sweet isn’t it?

Hi Christine,
Thank you.
I think you are right, a few nerves are good, not too many though!
We are spoilt by a profusion of native flowers down here. Many of them very different from anything the grows anywhere else.

Hi Sharon,
Thankyou
And thankyou!

Hi Sarah,
I can do it!
I agree the right attitude is what I need to take, not too concerned either way certainly helps.
Thank you!

Hi Jennifer,
Thank you!
Indeed I never know.
They are lovely flowers.
Hi Christy,
Thank you!

Hi Indigo,
Thank you!

Hi Hart,
Thankyou!
Good idea. Deb and I will certainly break it down into questions I might be asked.
You are certainly right. In a workplace it is often not what but who that make a job good or otherwise.

Hi Pamela Jo.
Thank you.
Headhunted huh?
Confidence is a key as you say.

Hi Jemi,
Thank you!

Hi Tasha,
Thank you!

Hi Kristen,
That is right you have absolutely nothing to loose by taking a punt.
Pass on my best to your hubby!
I am awful as a botanist, I know a little of a very big subject!

Hi Ninette,
I will! Thank you!

Hi Lynda,
Thank you!

Hi Rayna,
Thank you!
I an unsure about destiny. But I must say there are a few things in my life (and in my family history) that sometimes make me wonder.

Hi Misha,
Thank you.
That similarity isn’t surprising at all.
Botanically many Oz species are closely related to those of South Africa. Our Banksias are close to your Proteas for example, a relationship that goes all the way back to Gondwana times. So Oz heath plants do look quite like those in SA.