Interviews.... (Warning: EXTREMELY long and NO pictures)

On-campus interviews can be silly. There is not really a particular job you are applying for, in most cases. They supposedly are on campus to look for people they like, and then match them up with jobs at some later time. This 'later time' is a month before graduation, which leaves less than month between offer and graduation..... Not much time to find a place to live, (or is it?)

I had an interview today. They asked three questions, and they were all dumb.

1. Describe a situation where you were asked to do another task while you were still in the middle of completing another task.
2. Describe a situation where you went beyond your responsibilities (or expertise).
3. Do you prefer working in academia to industry, or vice versa?

I think number 1 is bogus because it all depends on the project your working on and the project that comes up. My answer could be totally lame if I said I was doing homework and then asked to TA a class in 2 hours; no big deal, blow off homework. But that happens to me, and it does answer the question. If you are designing a future system and the factory needs to fix a problem to continue production; guess which project takes priority. HOWEVER, what if the future system design is going to be field-tested the next day? The hiring of a plane, pilots, support staff, equipment moving, and travel can be very expensive to waste!

Is number 2 asking me if I ever stole someone else's responsibilities? I guess they mean I a situation where I did something I wasn't supposed to do? In hindsight, I think they probably meant the wanted to know about a situation where I went above and beyond the call of duty.... Why didn't they say that?

I'm sure NOW, that I totally blew number 3. He asked me this after noticing that I have done a lot of work as a research assistant. I said that I liked the freedom and flexibility of academia, and at my last job I felt restricted on what I could work on, then as I was explaining how great it is I can move about projects at will in academia, I sensed him stop listening....

I'm not sure what all these questions have to do with my willingness to work at this place. Oh well, in like a week or so they will let me know if I'll be attending their special 'EXPO' (seriously, they used that word) and 'speed interview' like 5 different bosses. ('speed interview' is my special term for when you talk to a hiring manager for one job, then go see another hiring manager for another job, etc. all in one day or morning; I see it as much more confusing and annoying than interviewing with several people for a single position).

I got another interview tomorrow morning. I like the morning interviews... I get it over with!! This will my 4th time to interview with this company, so I know the drill. Luckily, they have been normal interviews with those familiar 'tell me about yourself' type questions. A recruiter form this company sent me an email telling me to apply to get an interview. I felt that there was someone interested in talking to me about a specific job or group; after the info session I'm sure that was bone-head idea.

I feel it is too late to try to make any more applications; by the time they back to me I'll have graduated. But on the other hand, if wait longer to apply, I'll have to wait longer for a response. I really would like Albuquerque to come through and save me this stress. I have been stressing about it; I would like to know if I got it or not, for sure.