Mark Overmann

Recent Activity

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  Mark commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  What to Ask at the End of the Interview

  I've found that asking of your interviewer, “So, how did you get involved in this work?” can be very effective. Everybody likes to talk about themselves, and it’s never a bad thing to show that you’re interested in others and that you recognize the work you will potentially be doing is not just about your skills and contributions but also about being able to work within a team. And you might learn something interesting about your interviewer’s career path or career decision-making process that you find helpful down the road.

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  Mark commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Five Things Not to Do in a Job Interview

  I've always abided by the rule: don't ask about salary in a first interview. The first interview is a chance for the organization to get to know you as a candidate and decide if you're right for them, and for you to get to know the organization and decide if it's right for you. It's not a time for discussing the particulars of compensation.
  
  [However, you can and should frankly discuss salary in the second inteview and beyond. And when you're offered the job, even if it's a nonprofit, advocate for yourself when a salary is offered. Yes, you're working for the cause, and yes, you've decided to accept a lower salary bracket than other professions; but, that doesn't mean you are obliged to accept the first salary that is offered without negotiation. Be reasonable in your negotiation, but also be firm.]
  
  With regard to Evie's comment above, I agree that you should always have extra questions to ask, even if your interviewers truly did cover everything. I've found it's effective to ask questions of your interviewers. Ask them how they got into their current positions or the field and what they think of their work. This not only allows them to talk about themselves (which everyone loves) and will hopefully create an air of more casual conversation, but you also might learn something about what they think of the organization.