SO YOU WANT ME TO HIRE YOU – AN EMPLOYER'S REFLECTIONS ON THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS

My goal during the process of interviewing geologists is to hire individuals who can think on their feet, become competent at field and office tasks, visualize the geology of our projects in three dimensions, learn the applicable regulations, and convey their conclusions and recommendations in plain English to the client. For new hires, this means an investment of several years, a point I make to applicants during the interview. From a purely business viewpoint, based on the material provided to me by an applicant (cover letter, résumé, writing sample, references), plus perhaps a few hours of interviews prior to hiring, I have to determine whether investing in a given geologist will pay off in the form of profit, which, in turn, pays for corporate overhead, bonuses, 401K, continuing education, and annual raises. At the human and professional level, I must decide whether my staff and I will enjoy working with an applicant, and if the applicant has the tools to succeed in the work we do. In summary, the interviewing process requires any applicant to convince me to hire him/her based on a very limited sales pitch. This presentation will include examples of specific factors that contribute to successful interviews including background research on the targeted employer, an effective cover letter and résumé, appropriate attire and conversational skill during the interview, deft approaches to the issue of compensation, strong references, and thank-you letters following the interview.