Tag: Joe versus the Volcano

Getting the Job

Random Thoughts

I love the movie Joe versus the Volcano.  In fact, it is my all time favorite film.  I probably watch it at least three or four times a year.  One of my favorite parts of the films are the early scenes where Joe is working at his dead end job.  Mr. Waturi is having a conversation on the phone with someone, and he says things like “I’m not arguing that with you.” and “I know he can get the job, but can he do the job?”  His entire conversation seems to consist of variations of those two statements repeated over and over.

When, in my career, I have had the opportunity to be in on the hiring process, as I read over people’s resumes, I often think of those scenes.  Many resumes, and even interviews, paint pictures of people who can get the job, but in my experience, less than half of them actually can do the job.  I mean, really do the job, not just skating by doing passable work waiting for the next job, but doing the job well enough that I feel truly good about having hired them.

Every time I get into the hiring process from the other side, I run into the same bump.  My resume looks decent enough, and I can usually shine through the initial interview, but when it comes to the technical interview I usually wind up looking like a chump.

Here is my problem… when I have a job, I spend my time doing that job, to the best of my ability.  I will learn everything I need to know for that job and I will exceed every expectation of my employer.  However, if there is a skill not required for my job, I don’t know it.  Not even a little.  I simply have never found it beneficial to prepare myself for a job I don’t have.  Well, I can’t say “never” because clearly it would be beneficial to the interview process, but doing so would likely infringe upon my job performance or my life outside of my job.

Every job I have ever had, I was completely unqualified for on a technical level when I got the job.  In every case, I interviewed, they really liked me on a personal level, and I managed to inspire them to take a risk and hire me anyway.  Within days I always bring myself up to speed, and within months I am indispensable to the team, leading the way and cranking out the work.

The issue is that in recent years, the technical interview comes first, and I never get in the room with people to be able to personally inspire them.  I do a phone screen, which consists of technical questions, and if I pass I get to go in a room with a couple members of the team, either a PC or a white board, and be bombarded with more technical questions.  Since I spend so much effort be great at the job I do have, I don’t have much left to put in to being great at jobs I don’t have.  I fail the technical interviews every time.

I know I can do the job, but can I get the job?  So far, too often the answer is “no”.

Better Than Ezra… Live!

Reviews

For many things in my life, if people ask me my favorite, I can’t answer.

Favorite food? Can’t decide. Favorite movie? Its almost Joe versus the Volcano, but I waiver. Favorite color? Ehh…

But if you ask me my favorite band, the answer is most assuredly Better Than Ezra. Oh, I like all kinds of music, and if you narrow it to something like favorite country music, you’ll get another answer, but hands down, the top of them all is a little band from New Orleans. And its simply because, after over 10 years, 4 studio albums and one collection of B sides, they still haven’t put out a song I don’t like. Not one song rubs me wrong, or gets skipped in the CD player. Not one song causes me to feign interest while waiting for the good ones, because they are all good.

And to make it even better, BTE are excellent live. The guys really know how to work an audience. They play hits, they play requests, they play new stuff, they play cover songs, they make stuff up, they bring an audience member up and let him play… They don’t bother to speak political between songs, though they’ll often offer up a joke, noodle some familiar riffs, or remind people about an upcoming album or DVD.

They rock.

I’ve seen them in concert as part of festivals about 6 or 8 times, I lose track. But this weekend I finally went to see them in one of their own shows, down at the Roxy Theater.

They had two bands open for them, jad (I’m too lazy to look up how to make the symbol, but that’s pronounced like ‘jade’ with the long ‘a’) and Chuck Carrier. jad was pretty good, if a little overly loud. Chuck and his band however, were good enough that I picked up the CD on the way out. Its not often I do that, but he played well, and the songs were solid.

BTE took the stage around 11pm and they played a pretty solid 2 hours or so. As I said above, it was a mix of hits, requests, new songs, covers, and basically anything they wanted to play.

They rocked.

For my money, there just isn’t a better band. A close second would have to be Seven Mary Three.. but they don’t come to town for a couple weeks.