Yes! another job phone interview thread!
polycounter lvl 11
Rock! I got a phone interview this week for the job that I did the ice cream truck for. it was surprising, considering they told me less than a week ago that it'd take several weeks to get back to me.
So they said it'd be an hour, so what should i expect? I plan on just acting normal and being myself, you know the usual. but should I be ready for weird questions and stuff?
man the excitement and nervousness is crazy! Here's hoping!
- Mike
So they said it'd be an hour, so what should i expect? I plan on just acting normal and being myself, you know the usual. but should I be ready for weird questions and stuff?
man the excitement and nervousness is crazy! Here's hoping!
- Mike
Replies
and haha. funny!
On they other hand some times phone interviews are with one guy, sometimes the hiring manager, sometimes a lead artist, and sometimes the art director. These calls you can tell when things are going really well or not. You'll get alot more direct questions all coming from one point of view. You might get a few of those tough questions like tell me what you weaknesses are, but I seldom have been faced with those kind. Usually it is more about finding out what kind of work place your are interested in. Oh and it is likely that you will be presented with the toughest question of all on those one on one interviews, the salary question.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that an interview is not only for the employer to find out about you, but also about you finding out about them! Interviewers LOVE when you ask intelligent questions about the company and the position. A lot of times there isnt a clear cut position that your are interviewing for either so take this time to try an create a job description for the kind of position YOU are best for and tell them why you are the perfect fit. If you got the phone interview there is definite interest in your skills so congrats! You are very close now, just maintain there interest by not coming off like a douche bag or a know it all and you'll be on your way to an onsite interview. If you land that you basically landed the job! It would be on you to blow it at that point.
Good luck man.
i call them Bud Light Real Men of Genius Moments!. REEEAL MEN OF GEEENIUUUUUSS!!
But the salary question. That's a good one. I really have no idea what to ask for. Obviously, this would be my first experience job. I know that they are located in Colorado, but on their website one of their big expressive points is how they pay "California based wages" so I don't really know how that differs from the Colorado cost of living.
what does someone in California usually make annually for an environment artist position?
Most the phone interviews I had was alot of listening. What they're doing, what they expect you to do. Just answer whatever questions you get to the best of your knowledge. Ask them some questions as well if they haven't already answered them earlier (reason to listen carefully).
Since you already did the art test, you are probably pretty familiar with the project they're working on. Research some of the company's history is often fun. If you find out some names you can run them through Mobygames (its like IMDB for video game developers) and see what past projects they've worked on. Sometimes that helps to earn brownie points if you've played their earlier games.
Good luck on the interview.
He who runs off at the mouth at high speeds with no real aim, fails...
You can't see the place so don't be afraid to ask questions about the working environment, ask them about the surrounding area, what is there to do outside of work? That last one could segue into other non work related talk which could lead to you passing the personality portion of the interview.
I think the important thing to remember is that they think you can do the job based on what you sent in, and now they want to see what makes you tick. So don't unleash all of your personality disorders on them all at once. Give it a few months after your working there before you let it slip that you have a habit of shitting in abandoned coffee cups.
Remember they think you're the noob they'll have to polish up, true or not you are the "new guy". They have no idea you're a Rock Star waiting in the wings, ready to take their company to new heights. Try to break that news to them as gently as possible to avoid looking like a cocky dick face. I'm not saying you have a problem talking to people, or that you come off as a dick, but I've seen a few people crash and burn when they have way more confidence then their talent affords. In other words don't be the guy that writes checks his talent can't cash, heh =P
Good luck, you'll do fine if the guy that shows up here on Polycount walks into that interview. If you're acting here think about making that your default personality heh jk =P
Also, I am a funny guy, not stupid funny, but i love to laugh so I always try to find comedy in things. I like having a good time and stuff. So i like being casual in my conversations. I guess I just worry that the person i'm talking to is going to be the most business guy ever. I plan on asking about the company, the work environment, the mood, how they do their crunches, if there are any good sushi or greek places in town to eat at, what they usually do for lunch, if they have a good bowling alley.
stuff like that. I've done a lot of research on the company, so I already know the press release stuff. I hope that's what they are after also.
-Buddikaman-
also, does anyone work in Colorado? what is a good starting salary for that area?
Alex
if a train is leaving dallas at 40mph and another train is leaving philli at 64mph,and they both stop 3 times and then are heading towards each other and are meeting in paris, how many polys is the tree on the side of the mountain?
type stuff.
Colorado is a nice place, I've been there a lot in the past. I wouldn't worry about asking salary actually, just look at the quality of your work and the kind of rent you'll be expected to pay. So look for some apartments or whatever on the net for colorado places. A good rule of thumb is that you shouldn't pay more than 1/3 of your income for rent.
A starting salary for a game artist is, I've heard from various sources, around 30-50k, depending on your skill and the place. But once you research housing you can eliminate that variable and just take into account your experience/skill. For colorado I would expect something close to 35-40. It's not too expensive but there are some expensive areas.
if a train is leaving dallas at 40mph and another train is leaving philli at 64mph,and they both stop 3 times and then are heading towards each other and are meeting in paris, how many polys is the tree on the side of the mountain?
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oh my god if i ever get the chance to interview someone i am going to ask them that. lol oh my... it would be even better during a face to face. Ok Tim you got the job all you have to do is answer this one last question... Oh man..
Also, Cold, i've researched the hell out of Colorado, and actually it's the state I've always wanted to live in, since my dad used to take us when i was little on his business trips to Denver.
It's about the same if not a little more than the cost of living here (orlando). So maybe I should base my bills here as the same thing as i'd be paying there, more or less.
hopefully they throw a number at me that we're both agreeable on, if that happens, and i don't end up having to come up with my own number.
oh a perfect world. Regardless, All i care about really is getting the job. This would be a dream come true for me.
if a train is leaving dallas at 40mph and another train is leaving philli at 64mph,and they both stop 3 times and then are heading towards each other and are meeting in paris, how many polys is the tree on the side of the mountain?
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I'd answer
"how many pixels is the mountain goat occupying on screen at the time when you want me to tell you how many polys are in the tree?"
Have an idea of what you want in your head before the interview. When you do get an offer, don't accept it right away. Let them know that you are very interested, and ask for an opportunity to think things through for a day or two - any reputable company will allow for that.
If you think their offer is too low, and you want to negotiate for more, try to start and end with positives and address salary in the middle. Thank them for their interest in your work, then bring up the salary but make sure to reiterate to them that you can be a valuable team member, the skills that you bring to the table, and that you are excited about the position.
In an interview, you have to be your own salesman. However, make sure you come across as confident, not cocky.
Hope that helps! Good luck
haha yeah just wait for them to toss numbers around. Bring up any thing good you could possibly bring to the company, job, etc.
Sell yourself like the cheap whore you are. (Not that you really are a whore but well you know.) Convince them you are the answers to their prayers and the end to their childrens nightmares.
Good luck.
Convince them you are the answers to their prayers and the end to their childrens nightmares.
Good luck.
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What if they're a bunch of Satanists working on the next big survival horror game? That would certainly suck then...
what's the environment like at work?
how does the group handle crunches?
what kind of seating is there? (crucial to know, since i have so many freaking figures for my desk. haha)
also questions about recreation:
any good movie theaters around?
sushi or greek restaraunts? (my wife and my favorites)
do they do any cool company outings..
stuff like that.
I just want them to know that I love having fun, but also love the job. in fact i don't know why i'd go home if i wasn't married. the thought of working on a game that will be played by people just makes me anime eyed.
man it's all so exciting. I hope i do well.
Oh man my wife is going to kick me in the balls
i'm married and hoping i don't have to go home
Oh man my wife is going to kick me in the balls
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ahahahah
you made me laugh
lol
nice
He asked me several questions (yes, even the strengths/weaknesses one) and I just answered them like I were me.
His concern was that I only had a few pieces of environments on my site, 5 or so. So I had to send him some extra stuff of things i'd been working on. Though It wasn't too many things, since I work all the time as well. But I'm sure they understand that.
They also read about my progress on the ice cream truck on here, (polycount) and that it was a good thing, because they saw how i worked and stuff. so I think that's good.
Other than that I asked him about the area and the environment, and he said that the questions weren't the norm, because he usually got benefits questions and stuff like that.
Hopefully they saw me for the fun and dedicated guy I want to show them I can be. Here's hoping I get a call back for an onsite.
Thanks everyone for the advice, I hope I didn't let you guys down.
I'm just worried the extra stuff i sent in won't be enough. but I don't want to discourage myself. Hopefully that's more of a reassurance thing for them, since they already sent me an art test and i must've done well on it. I hope so anyway.
So hang in there!
man i hope so.
my concentration is so crappy. Man it would be awesome to hear some good news today, but i fear it will be a LONG weekend.
Easier said than done, I know - but at least you have another test to shift your focus to
here's hoping today is the day. I would be really disappointed if i found out that my lack of a big portfolio killed me after i'd already done an art test
I'm glad you got to the interview stage. Back when I applied for a QA position at a Swedish developer, I sent in my resume and cover letter. All I got back was an internal email for the QA Lead's eyes, sent to me by mistake by the HR person.
After that, not a word. To keep my spirits up I just tell myself she screwed up my application and it got lost
Now you almost definitley got the job as long as you dont try an tongue kiss the art director or come smelling like a tub full of piss that someone just farted in
I'm so nervous. what if i fart or something ala peter griffin.
man!!!!!!!!!!!