Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 It seems silly to sit in my home office wearing a suit from the waist up but is that something people do? Can I get away with a scoop neck solid blouse and collard shirt over that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danae Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 My practice has been that from the waist up I dress the way I would for an in-person interview. So level of formality depends on the job/institution. I have, in fact, done a suit top with pajama bottoms. The super nice thing last January was not having to decide between dress shoes and snow boots for what would have been an on-campus interview. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Lightweight top with no gapping if it has buttons. Jacket. Generally in a bit brighter colors than I would wear in person. I also always double check the image by starting a fake zoom meeting before hand to get the angles and lighting just right. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 I agree with Danae. Probably just as important is the presentation of your Zoom - make sure you camera is set a a good angle, lighting is good. If you wear glasses make sure they're not glaring too much - I have one pair that looks like reflective bug eyes on zoom, try to have an uncluttered background, and that your audio is coming through clearly. I practice with Zoom or my computer camera before I do meetings. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 It depends on the job. My husband had been doing zoom interviews for engineering positions and the interviewees wear a blouse or shirt, no blazer/jacket required. His office work attire is shirt and jeans though. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danae Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Oh, yeah, check make up and hair in a test call. And sit a little further back from the camera so you have room to use body language instead of just your face. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Brighter/stronger lipstick than I would wear IRL is very helpful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 I feel like a clown b/c my makeup is so much heavier but it seems good on camera. Thanks, all! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 re garden dreams 1 hour ago, Sneezyone said: It seems silly to sit in my home office wearing a suit from the waist up but is that something people do? Can I get away with a scoop neck solid blouse and collard shirt over that? ( just giggling at my mental picture of this ) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 12 minutes ago, Pam in CT said: re garden dreams ( just giggling at my mental picture of this ) Same. And thinking "only if you wear a cabbage leaf cap to coordinate !" Knock’em dead, Sneezy. 😘 2 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 27 minutes ago, Pam in CT said: re garden dreams ( just giggling at my mental picture of this ) Truth! I took time away from my Gantt chart to do the interview! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 16 minutes ago, bibiche said: Same. And thinking "only if you wear a cabbage leaf cap to coordinate !" Knock’em dead, Sneezy. 😘 You might finally be free of me 😂 b/c it’s an intense job but at least I’ll be able to afford a vacation! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 I'm sure you did great, bedecked by greens and all. Holding you in the light. When do you find out? 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Pam in CT said: I'm sure you did great, bedecked by greens and all. Holding you in the light. When do you find out? Not sure. I applied back in late November and interviews are running through Feb. 17. 🤷🏽♀️ Or, maybe that’s just how many slots they identified for people? Nothing about this has been fast. Edited February 11, 2022 by Sneezyone 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 I'm rooting for you! In part because I will likely be trying to find a job in a year or three and I want to see other people reassuringly successful. Go Sneezy! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 2 hours ago, SusanC said: I'm rooting for you! In part because I will likely be trying to find a job in a year or three and I want to see other people reassuringly successful. Go Sneezy! Good luck to you too! On a serious note, my husband wants to retire someday and my sister is high-need ATM. I need to find something. I had plans for my immediate family that were doable on one income but this extra mess has stretched us a bit too far. At least the job market is good right now. No one is batting an eyelash re: my employment gaps. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 My husband had 5, FIVE, Zoom interviews for the new job he took last summer. It was out of state and in the middle of Covid, so Zoom it was. Definitely dress professionally, head to toe, just in case you have to stand for some reason (you never know). Do a test run with background and lighting. We had a whole set up in the dining room where we took down a picture so he had a solid wall behind him, we brought in a lamp that added nice light to his face at a flattering angle (the overhead dining room lights cast shadows and made him look really weird). Check for glares, etc. If there are windows, take into account the time of day the interview will be conducted. Make sure any weird backgrounds/filters are turned off and your display name is as you want it. Gather any papers and note-taking materials you'll need before you start, and maybe a water bottle if you think you'll need it. Good luck! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Ideally, you want to have your laptop raised (like on a tv tray or whatever) so that you aren't looking down at the camera. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) Thanks, all! I applied all of the tips/tricks I learned as an online English teacher (including the lighting, raised camera, and makeup) and...no joke, LOL, the interviewers audibly inhaled and smiled when they opened the camera. These are EXCELLENT suggestions. I don't think most people apply them. Edited February 12, 2022 by Sneezyone 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Forget-Me-Not said: My husband had 5, FIVE, Zoom interviews for the new job he took last summer. It was out of state and in the middle of Covid, so Zoom it was. Definitely dress professionally, head to toe, just in case you have to stand for some reason (you never know). Do a test run with background and lighting. We had a whole set up in the dining room where we took down a picture so he had a solid wall behind him, we brought in a lamp that added nice light to his face at a flattering angle (the overhead dining room lights cast shadows and made him look really weird). Check for glares, etc. If there are windows, take into account the time of day the interview will be conducted. Make sure any weird backgrounds/filters are turned off and your display name is as you want it. Gather any papers and note-taking materials you'll need before you start, and maybe a water bottle if you think you'll need it. Good luck! This employer is SHOCKINGLY slow to act given market conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Sneezyone said: This employer is SHOCKINGLY slow to act given market conditions. If they are a large bureaucracy, they may just be subject to the dynamics of that---waiting for department funding to be finalized, ranking the priorities of open positions within the headcount dollar constraints they have, opening the position but then getting held up by HR screening before interviews can happen, etc. It can be crazy stupid how long it takes to go from posting a job to interviewing. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 minute ago, prairiewindmomma said: If they are a large bureaucracy, they may just be subject to the dynamics of that---waiting for department funding to be finalized, ranking the priorities of open positions within the headcount dollar constraints they have, opening the position but then getting held up by HR screening before interviews can happen, etc. It can be crazy stupid how long it takes to go from posting a job to interviewing. Yep. This. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootsie Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I would dress so that anything visible in the camera is similar to what I would wear for an in-person interview. I would not necessarily wear a skirt or dress pants and dress shoes--I would dress comfortably, but I would not want to worry if for some reason the camera got knocked, I had to jump up because my smoke alarm went off, or something else that what the interviewers saw was not decent--but I think it would be normal to have on yoga pants or shorts with a dress top for a ZOOM interview. I would try to check what I thought I would wear and see how it looks on the ZOOM screen. I have a striped sweater that I get a lot of compliments on in-person. I wore it one day for a ZOOM meeting, watched the recording and realized that the strips come across as busy, distorted, and looks like some kind of kaleidescope screen. My sister has a shirt/sweater jacket she likes to wear and realized that on the ZOOM camera the scoop neck of the shirt combined with the shawl collar (and colors) of the sweater, could easily look like pajamas and robe on the ZOOM screen--she solved that with a scarf to tie the look together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) I interviewed a few months back on Zoom. I decided to prioritize my hair and accessories. I did a turtle neck and interesting necklace for one and a scoop neck t with a nice open front cardigan for the other. I was interviewing for a managerial position but suits are not normative in my field and city so I didn’t wear one. I did get the job. ETA: I see you have had the interview. Yay, it sounds like things went well! Edited February 12, 2022 by LucyStoner 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) 54 minutes ago, LucyStoner said: I interviewed a few months back on Zoom. I decided to prioritize my hair and accessories. I did a turtle neck and interesting necklace for one and a scoop neck t with a nice open front cardigan for the other. I was interviewing for a managerial position but suits are not normative in my field and city so I didn’t wear one. I did get the job. ETA: I see you have had the interview. Yay, it sounds like things went well! Your approach was my preferred one but, based on advice from here, I erred on the conservative side with a patterned scoop neck and solid shawl collar jacket. Turns out that was a good move b/c the job would require impromptu interaction with elected officials. The person I’d report to indicated being able to dress up/down to suit the audience w/o being told was a desired qualification.(I’d asked, based on what was said earlier, about dress expectations). Edited February 12, 2022 by Sneezyone 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamerGirl Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 A bit late, but your attire sounds perfect and hope you get the job ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 I’m glad the interview went well. I hope you hear positive news soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 1, 2022 Author Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) For those following along, hopeful, I have a second interview scheduled for tomorrow (wherein it seems like I'm getting the chance to clear up a few things/provide references that I omitted from my app...deliberately). So...yay! How else are you going to know they're looking, seriously, at you as a candidate if you don't keep something in reserve?! Edited March 1, 2022 by Sneezyone 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Your interview outfit sounds perfect - the zoom mullet! Business on top, party (or PJ's) on the bottom. 😁 I hope you get the position!! Fingers crossed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Good luck tomorrow! I’ll be sending lots of good thoughts your way! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 1, 2022 Author Share Posted March 1, 2022 15 minutes ago, AmandaVT said: Your interview outfit sounds perfect - the zoom mullet! Business on top, party (or PJ's) on the bottom. 😁 I hope you get the position!! Fingers crossed. The call I got today leads me to believe it's a 30-minute check-in-- largely a formality to obtain my references and clarify my salary preferences. I don't like it when references are contacted out of the blue and prefer to confirm willingness, phone numbers, and email addresses so that's what I'm doing this afternoon. *fingers crossed* 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Good luck! Thanks for the update. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Any updates, @Sneezyone? I hope the interview went well today!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 2, 2022 Author Share Posted March 2, 2022 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Catwoman said: Any updates, @Sneezyone? I hope the interview went well today!!! Ayup! I got an offer! Now I have to negotiate (which I really, really dislike). The initial offer was good, including a sign-on bonus, which is nice; it's just not what I want for a starting salary. I need to do some research this evening WRT pay for this type of role and then get back with them. All good things tho! Edited March 2, 2022 by Sneezyone 16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Exciting! Good luck with the negotiations and congratulations! 🥳 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Congratulations, Sneezy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Congratulations! Good luck with negotiations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 2, 2022 Author Share Posted March 2, 2022 Thanks, all! I'm very relieved. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Congratulations!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Yay! I'm so happy for you!!!! 🎊🥳🎉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 (edited) Ok, for the sake of argument...THESE ARE NOT REAL FIGURES... Let's say the offer is $50k/yr plus a $2500 sign on bonus and the (publicly available) range for people who hold this job title with this employer is $49-54k to start. What do you ask for? For one thing, I don't want or need a signing bonus and for another, I'd be shooting myself in the foot with a ridiculously low starting salary if I take the initial offer. I don't think I can negotiate for extra PTO. Everyone is still working from home anyway so there's no point. Master negotiators...pls. advise. Are inflationary pressures a good reason? What about matching the salary of your last job? Edited March 3, 2022 by Sneezyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 20 hours ago, Sneezyone said: Ok, for the sake of argument...THESE ARE NOT REAL FIGURES... Let's say the offer is $50k/yr plus a $2500 sign on bonus and the (publicly available) range for people who hold this job title with this employer is $49-54k to start. What do you ask for? For one thing, I don't want or need a signing bonus and for another, I'd be shooting myself in the foot with a ridiculously low starting salary if I take the initial offer. I don't think I can negotiate for extra PTO. Everyone is still working from home anyway so there's no point. Master negotiators...pls. advise. Are inflationary pressures a good reason? What about matching the salary of your last job? In my organisation we look favourably on matching a previous salary if it was a similar job. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 I had good luck starting with, "Perhaps you could tell me how you came up with the salary offer?" It was an innocent question because I was genuinely clueless, but they didn't even explain, just upped the offer. It does let them take a turn in the awkward seat at least. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 7 minutes ago, SusanC said: I had good luck starting with, "Perhaps you could tell me how you came up with the salary offer?" It was an innocent question because I was genuinely clueless, but they didn't even explain, just upped the offer. It does let them take a turn in the awkward seat at least. Ooooh, that's a good one (that I will definitely save for later). I had to respond by this afternoon and didn't feel comfy doing it over the phone so I put it in writing. I think they're gonna have to run it up their food chain and having my rationale in writing will probably help. Their budgets for positions are usually tight so I asked them to match my last job and keep the signing bonus. Hopefully they'll agree to that so we can move on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 Congratulations on the job offer! All the best with the salary negotiations. I have absolutely no tips on this other than looking at salaries of similar jobs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 Congratulations! That is terrific. On 3/2/2022 at 8:58 PM, Sneezyone said: Ok, for the sake of argument...THESE ARE NOT REAL FIGURES... Let's say the offer is $50k/yr plus a $2500 sign on bonus and the (publicly available) range for people who hold this job title with this employer is $49-54k to start. What do you ask for? For one thing, I don't want or need a signing bonus and for another, I'd be shooting myself in the foot with a ridiculously low starting salary if I take the initial offer. I don't think I can negotiate for extra PTO. Everyone is still working from home anyway so there's no point. Master negotiators...pls. advise. Are inflationary pressures a good reason? What about matching the salary of your last job? Hmm. If (forex, not real numbers) they've offered 50K plus a 2500 bonus, then you know they've got at least 52,500 in this year's budget to work with. So if you say I don't want/need a signing bonus but I'd like more base salary, say 51,500... they're in budget, and your future raises/COLA increases are off a higher base (which they can budget for, in subsequent budget cycles), so that's a comparatively easy "give" from their POV. In any event, if your last salary > the offer, they should know your last salary. Even if they can't match it (if this is a grant-funded position or a non-profit or etc) they should KNOW it, so they're a bit nervous you might be poachable if they don't do as well for you as they can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share Posted March 4, 2022 9 hours ago, Pam in CT said: Congratulations! That is terrific. Hmm. If (forex, not real numbers) they've offered 50K plus a 2500 bonus, then you know they've got at least 52,500 in this year's budget to work with. So if you say I don't want/need a signing bonus but I'd like more base salary, say 51,500... they're in budget, and your future raises/COLA increases are off a higher base (which they can budget for, in subsequent budget cycles), so that's a comparatively easy "give" from their POV. In any event, if your last salary > the offer, they should know your last salary. Even if they can't match it (if this is a grant-funded position or a non-profit or etc) they should KNOW it, so they're a bit nervous you might be poachable if they don't do as well for you as they can. Yep. That’s exactly where I came out on the issue. I asked for my last salary and the bonus (using the not real numbers ) 54.5 plus half the bonus but indicated I’d be willing to forgo the bonus. I would much rather have the higher starting salary for all the reasons you mentioned. I didn’t hear back yesterday so I assume number crunching is going on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 20 minutes ago, Sneezyone said: Yep. That’s exactly where I came out on the issue. I asked for my last salary and the bonus (using the not real numbers ) 54.5 plus half the bonus but indicated I’d be willing to forgo the bonus. I would much rather have the higher starting salary for all the reasons you mentioned. I didn’t hear back yesterday so I assume number crunching is going on. Hope the results are favorable! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share Posted March 4, 2022 Just now, Innisfree said: Hope the results are favorable! Me too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 Whelp, I took the job officially. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, GARDENING IS SO ON!! until I start. On the other hand, they weren't able to raise the pay from the initial offer. At least for the first year, it's fine. After that, all bets are off. My conversation with my boss-in-waiting was cathartic. She indicated that she understood how difficult this was for me and encouraged me to keep looking for the right leadership position, hopefully with the same employer (which I will do). Onboarding should start in about 10 days. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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