Interview
I had my interview today (and thankfully, my sister offered up her luxury ride with the meat locker temperature air conditioning, as it was 104 degrees in Denver).
Things went well. I enjoyed very much chatting with the woman who heads up the unit. Her background is also disease prevention, so it was like talking with a kindred spirit. Turns out she lives in an neighborhood just over the road from me.
Two things that she said kind of had me puzzled. One was, "I showed your application to the chronic disease director and asked her why she hasn't hired you yet! I told her if she isn't going to hire you, I am." She said that I may get another phone call out of the blue.
The other thing was when she asked me, "You have such strong program experience, are you sure you'd be happy in a grant monitoring position?"
Overall, I'd say the interview was a positive experience. She has four people to interview and will then choose two candidates for a second interview (what is it about second interviews around here? When I hired folks, I knew from the initial interview who I planned to hire).
So, we'll see what happens. If nothing else, I have made another impression on someone who may be able to help me in other ways.
Thanks for all the support! I hope no one got cramps from crossed fingers!
Oh, for those of you who like trivia, today's temperature of 104 degrees was only one degree from the all time hottest temperature in Denver, which is 105 degrees. That's a record I hope we do not break because it is hella hot around here. Reminds me of Sacramento.
Kix
Things went well. I enjoyed very much chatting with the woman who heads up the unit. Her background is also disease prevention, so it was like talking with a kindred spirit. Turns out she lives in an neighborhood just over the road from me.
Two things that she said kind of had me puzzled. One was, "I showed your application to the chronic disease director and asked her why she hasn't hired you yet! I told her if she isn't going to hire you, I am." She said that I may get another phone call out of the blue.
The other thing was when she asked me, "You have such strong program experience, are you sure you'd be happy in a grant monitoring position?"
Overall, I'd say the interview was a positive experience. She has four people to interview and will then choose two candidates for a second interview (what is it about second interviews around here? When I hired folks, I knew from the initial interview who I planned to hire).
So, we'll see what happens. If nothing else, I have made another impression on someone who may be able to help me in other ways.
Thanks for all the support! I hope no one got cramps from crossed fingers!
Oh, for those of you who like trivia, today's temperature of 104 degrees was only one degree from the all time hottest temperature in Denver, which is 105 degrees. That's a record I hope we do not break because it is hella hot around here. Reminds me of Sacramento.
Kix
One thing they do here in CO (at least at the state government interviews) is they provide you with a list of the questions they plan to ask. I like that!
One question she asked was, "What would make you leave this job?" I replied, "If I win the Powerball. I will treat everyone to one heck of a party, and then I would resign." I guess she never heard that one before, because it caught her off guard for a bit and then she burst out laughing! I added that if I win the state lotto, I will continue to work because the state jackpots are never high enough to retire on, but I would still throw the party.
I think my biggest obstacle is, if you look at my broad knowledge base from all the public health assignments I served at CDC, a state person might decide I am overqualified for some of these positions I'm applying for. I have enough experience in program management that I could run a department, but I don't want to do so. Hence my dilemma.
Thanks for the input! My Masters is in HR Management, but it's not something I could do full time. I would probably slap some of the whining employees I have observed in my career, and then I would end up getting sued!
Kix
One question she asked was, "What would make you leave this job?" I replied, "If I win the Powerball. I will treat everyone to one heck of a party, and then I would resign." I guess she never heard that one before, because it caught her off guard for a bit and then she burst out laughing! I added that if I win the state lotto, I will continue to work because the state jackpots are never high enough to retire on, but I would still throw the party.
I think my biggest obstacle is, if you look at my broad knowledge base from all the public health assignments I served at CDC, a state person might decide I am overqualified for some of these positions I'm applying for. I have enough experience in program management that I could run a department, but I don't want to do so. Hence my dilemma.
Thanks for the input! My Masters is in HR Management, but it's not something I could do full time. I would probably slap some of the whining employees I have observed in my career, and then I would end up getting sued!
Kix
hiya kix!
the interview sounds like it went really well -- sounds very promising. i'm surely hoping it turns out well - with you securing a position in which you'll be happy. i can take keeping the fingers crossed a while longer!
oooohhh - 104 degrees sounds just awful to me! was that last summer when i was in denver? i think it was quite warm then too. it's been upper 80s to 90 here in indiana. and i think that's too hot! although i was in miami and orlando at the end of june -- i was miserable there too! perhaps i'm just not a summer person??
take care.
deb
the interview sounds like it went really well -- sounds very promising. i'm surely hoping it turns out well - with you securing a position in which you'll be happy. i can take keeping the fingers crossed a while longer!
oooohhh - 104 degrees sounds just awful to me! was that last summer when i was in denver? i think it was quite warm then too. it's been upper 80s to 90 here in indiana. and i think that's too hot! although i was in miami and orlando at the end of june -- i was miserable there too! perhaps i'm just not a summer person??
take care.
deb
Kix,
You are too funny. I love your lottery responses. It shows that you are witty on your toes and have a great sense of humor. Who wouldn't want to work with someone with those traits?
I just have one question, are you saying that it would be a bad idea to slap my employees when they whine? I've been trying to think of an appropriate response to a very annoying situation that I have to deal with regularly. Nothing else seems to be working all that effectively.
Can't wait to hear about their response to your interview.
You are too funny. I love your lottery responses. It shows that you are witty on your toes and have a great sense of humor. Who wouldn't want to work with someone with those traits?
I just have one question, are you saying that it would be a bad idea to slap my employees when they whine? I've been trying to think of an appropriate response to a very annoying situation that I have to deal with regularly. Nothing else seems to be working all that effectively.
Can't wait to hear about their response to your interview.
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
Hi Kix,
Congratulations, it sounds like you are going to rejoin the working world (lol). How do you feel about getting a grant run position? Is it a year to year? I work in a program that is a pre-welfare to work. I work for a non-profit not the state but we depend upon the State for our money. Each year around April I hold my breath in hopes that we will be renewed. I have some seniority in the Union so I am hoping that will keep me safe.
I really do hope you get this position. I know how scarey it is to be "mature" and looking for a decent paying positon.
I do wish you luck and please let us know. This agency will be damn lucky to have you on board.
The best to you.
Jeanne
Congratulations, it sounds like you are going to rejoin the working world (lol). How do you feel about getting a grant run position? Is it a year to year? I work in a program that is a pre-welfare to work. I work for a non-profit not the state but we depend upon the State for our money. Each year around April I hold my breath in hopes that we will be renewed. I have some seniority in the Union so I am hoping that will keep me safe.
I really do hope you get this position. I know how scarey it is to be "mature" and looking for a decent paying positon.
I do wish you luck and please let us know. This agency will be damn lucky to have you on board.
The best to you.
Jeanne
Kix-
Your interview sounds really promising. I didn't quite realize the extent of your previous experience. What did you do at the CDC?
I'm glad you threw that in there about the temp in Denver almost being a record cuz I was going to ask you about those temps. I didn't think Denver usually got that hot. Is it dry heat or humid heat? And God help the asthma sufferers at a mile up.
I'll have to try to remember your Powerball comment. I would never want to work for someone that didn't at least chuckle after seeing that response.
Really hoping this one works out for you!!
-Dawn
I worked as a public heatlh advisor at CDC for over 15 years, first in the STD program and then in Immunization.
Public health advisors (PHAs) are assigned to state/local/county health departments to assist with public health duties. CDC doesn't do this so much any more, but in the early days, PHAs were transferred every 1.5 to 2 yrs to give them a variety of public health experiences. In my career, I worked in St. Louis, Tallahassee, Philadelphia, Honolulu, Oakland, San Francisco, and Olympia WA. I've also been to Atlanta more times than I can count.
I had different duties at each gig, and in Oakland one of my duties was managing the San Francisco region for the State Immunization Branch, which meant I served in an adjunct capacity in a ten county region from Solano (hi, Lynn!) to Monterey, I'm lucky in that I spent a bulk of my career working directly with public health nurses, so I gained experiences that many PHAs lack.
The shift in the PHA program meants PHAs aren't likely to be transferred unless they choose to do so, and even though it's tough to move all the time, I feel sad they don't have the opportunities I have in terms of well rounded experience.
Kix
PS: I forgot to add that Denver's heat is not usually humid, although we have been a tad more humid than usual this year. As for asthma sufferers, when I first moved to Denver I was on supplemental oxygen and moving here from California required me to crank up my oxygen a half-liter! I'll bet if I go back to California, I'd have the lung capacity to run a mile or two!
Public health advisors (PHAs) are assigned to state/local/county health departments to assist with public health duties. CDC doesn't do this so much any more, but in the early days, PHAs were transferred every 1.5 to 2 yrs to give them a variety of public health experiences. In my career, I worked in St. Louis, Tallahassee, Philadelphia, Honolulu, Oakland, San Francisco, and Olympia WA. I've also been to Atlanta more times than I can count.
I had different duties at each gig, and in Oakland one of my duties was managing the San Francisco region for the State Immunization Branch, which meant I served in an adjunct capacity in a ten county region from Solano (hi, Lynn!) to Monterey, I'm lucky in that I spent a bulk of my career working directly with public health nurses, so I gained experiences that many PHAs lack.
The shift in the PHA program meants PHAs aren't likely to be transferred unless they choose to do so, and even though it's tough to move all the time, I feel sad they don't have the opportunities I have in terms of well rounded experience.
Kix
PS: I forgot to add that Denver's heat is not usually humid, although we have been a tad more humid than usual this year. As for asthma sufferers, when I first moved to Denver I was on supplemental oxygen and moving here from California required me to crank up my oxygen a half-liter! I'll bet if I go back to California, I'd have the lung capacity to run a mile or two!
Kix,
I'm glad to hear that your interview went well today and that you had a good rapport with the hiring manager. It sounds to me like you've got some really solid chances of landing this job (or the other one that she was hinting at!)
As a hiring manager myself, I know I get a bit paranoid when someone is applying for a slightly different job than what their history is so I ask about it. For example, I recently interviewed someone for a counseling position that had been working in management for many years - I needed to know why he would be interested in a counseling position. I'm guessing they just wanted to make sure that you had an acceptable response to the different position.
Also, from a hiring manager perspective, I often know who I will hire after the first interview, but I use the second to confirm my thoughts. People can be very different from the first time to the second and I've hired too many people that have turned out to be such nuts that I always take my opportunity to see them a second time around.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you no matter how bad the cramps get! You've been working on this for a while now and deserve to get a great job!
I'm glad to hear that your interview went well today and that you had a good rapport with the hiring manager. It sounds to me like you've got some really solid chances of landing this job (or the other one that she was hinting at!)
As a hiring manager myself, I know I get a bit paranoid when someone is applying for a slightly different job than what their history is so I ask about it. For example, I recently interviewed someone for a counseling position that had been working in management for many years - I needed to know why he would be interested in a counseling position. I'm guessing they just wanted to make sure that you had an acceptable response to the different position.
Also, from a hiring manager perspective, I often know who I will hire after the first interview, but I use the second to confirm my thoughts. People can be very different from the first time to the second and I've hired too many people that have turned out to be such nuts that I always take my opportunity to see them a second time around.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you no matter how bad the cramps get! You've been working on this for a while now and deserve to get a great job!
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
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