I had a preliminary interview for a position at one of their performing centers. The potential employer/interviewer was late, in a rush, and bored. From the start, I felt like the interviewer didn’t care, they read tasks extremely fast (red flag), and it made me feel like I was interrupting their precious time. At the end, when I had questions, it seemed like the interviewer was getting more and more irritated. They even said something like “well, it’s not our department that handles it!”. Ok, how am I supposed to know that? That’s why I am asking. Their colleague seemed way kinder and I enjoyed talking to them.
I interviewed with various government agencies (including city of Raleigh) before and people were usually very kind and personable. It is the first time I met someone so full of themselves. Mid-way through this process I decided this was not for me, and I would not want to work with such manager. At the end, I wished them a good day which seemed to surprise the interviewer, they were ready to hang up! This experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Almost all the questions but one were about giving an example. There were no questions about relevant experience, customer support or administrative skills which are a big part of this job.
They also asked me how I changed a culture in my company. It’s a surprising question. I provided them with example, but frankly I don’t believe company’s culture can or should be easily influenced, especially when it’s a government organization. It’s a concern if someone can easily impact company’s culture. Maybe this question is a reflection of this department.
You apply for the job online and will receive a call asking if you would like to interview. They set up an in-person interview at the park where they ask a series of questions.
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at City of Raleigh (Raleigh, NC)
Interview
The interview was with a panel of 3. The interviewers expressed that the interview was mainly to gauge my personality (and ability to work with the team). Since the application process included a questionnaire about why I wanted to work at the Stormwater division, we didn't really discuss those topics. Be honest about your passion for stormwater. They were all super nice, too! Overall, the interview took about 1 hour. Good luck, and be yourself!!
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?