Saturday, February 16, 2008

My First Job Interview

My quest of a summer internship started with a call from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Can you believe that? I send them an email as a shot in the dark and they call me back requesting an interview. This was amazing news, but I never been to an interview before. I decided to go to the career center. I heard they conducted mock interviews so I figured any practice is better then none. Leaving the career center I felt pretty prepared and confident.
The day of my interview could not have been any worse. A snow storm has hit causing many schools to close even Westminster College. The roads were horrible and I was not sure if my parents were going to make it up to school to get me and take me to Pittsburgh. This was an opportunity that I was not going to miss no matter what Mother Nature would through at me. My parents and I braved the weather and drove down to PNC Park. By this late in the after noon the roads were not too bad, but I made it.
I walked through the glass doors and entered PNC Park. A man at the desk had me sign in and sent me up to the forth floor on the elevator. The waiting room lobby was beautiful. There were black lather couches, dark wood furniture and of course pirate photos everywhere. The lady at the reception desk said it would be ten minutes before they would see me. Ten minutes may not seem like a long time but when your just sitting there waiting and seems forever. I felt like I was in a football game and they called a time out to freeze the kicker. I had way to much time to think which was starting to make me nervous.
Finally I was called in. I walked in and was greeted by four guys. Four guys! How many did then need to interview me? But some how that did not make me nervous at all, having eight eyes starting at me. See I have always felt I had an advantage whenever I had a chance to speak to someone in person. All through out my life I have been a great public speaker and some what of a bull shiter as well. When it was all over, I walked of the building feeling that I nailed the interview. Funny thing is, the mock one I had at the career center was much harder then the one I had with the Pirates. The interview itself was very comfortable and casual which made it real easy to be myself. Looking back on it, there is not one thing I would say or do differently in my interview. Whether I get the job or not, it was an immense learning experience for me.

3 comments:

Brad Weaver, BC Instructor said...

I'm hoping some folks in both capstones will read your blog and get something out of this story you tell.

Reading your account may help some folks who are reluctant or procrastinating.

Perhaps I should require all BC Capstone students to read your entry this week?

Nicky Piszczor said...

Hey Doug,
That's great...I hope you get the internship! I can definitely relate to your experience. When I went for my first internship interview, I had to wait for awhile too, which made me a little nervous, but it definitely sounds like you nailed it!! Anyways, I'm waiting to hear back about internships myself...
*crosses fingers*
Anyways, I enjoyed reading your blog post, keep us updated!
**Nicky**

Christina said...

I really hope that you get the internship with the pirates. I'm still stressing about my upcoming interviews, but your tip for going to the career center is something I'm going to definitely do. It also put me at ease that you mentioned that the mock interview at the CC was harder than the actual interview with the Pirates. Anyway, awesome blog! :)