Friday Five: Interviews

Mother Laura over at RGBP was noticing that lots of the Rev Gals are interviewing these days. (I just gone done with some myself!) So she posts the following Friday Five:

1. What was the most memorable interview you ever had?
Probably the one that should never have taken place. I got a phone call from a church that wanted to do a phone interview, but that was the first I'd ever heard of this place, so I wanted a chance to look at their info and location. But I said a tentative yes, explaining that I needed a chance to look over their CIF (church information form, for you non-Presbys) and then after I'd read it, discovered this was not a place I felt called to. So after trying to call the number he gave me about 5 or 6 times in one night and several times over the next few days, (get this, no machine, no voicemail!) I decided to use the email from their information form. Apparently it was there for show because in no one checked it in a week's time and they still called me for the interview. I was not ready, to say the least. I went ahead with it since the whole committee had gathered for that purpose and I wasn't sure how appropriate it was for me to say, "Hey! I tried to call you all week, emailed you, etc. Don't you people check your communications?!" I must have done ok, b/c at the end of the interview they asked me to send sermon tapes. (Needless to say, what they got instead was a "no, thank you" letter.)

2. Have you ever been the interviewer rather than the interviewee? If so, are you a tiger, a creampuff, or somewhere in between?
I've never been an official interviewer for someone seeking a position, but I did ask plenty of questions when I was visiting the church that finally called me. So I suppose that was a sort of interview. That being the case, I'd say more like a tiger in creampuff clothing. No one would look at me and think 'intimidating,' but I know I asked some pretty good, well-aimed questions.

3. Do phone interviews make you more or less nervous than in-person ones?
More. I really like to be able to read cues like facial expressions and reactions and such when I'm talking to people.

4. What was the best advice you ever got to prepare for an interview? How about the worst?
It helped me to write down the answers to the most common questions, like "what are your strengths and weaknesses," etc. By the way, if you're ever on a committee, get more creative than that and "where do you see yourself in five to ten years." What kind of question is that to ask a pastor?!
Sorry, flashback.
Anyway, the other best advice was to have a drink next to me while I was on the phone. Yeah, a grown-up kind. They can't see it and I was way more relaxed. Personally, I prefer and gin & tonic with lots of lime.

5. Do you have any pre-interview rituals that give you confidence?
Nah, just gotta have daddy keep the kid out of the room so I can hear what they're asking if I'm going to be on the phone. Otherwise, for in person, I try to make myself eat something even if I'm too nervous to feel like eating, just so I don't feel ill later.

Interview, part 1

Well, today went really well. I'm here in lovely Coastal Atlantic State, visiting with Church Much Closer to the In-Laws this weekend. After my plane from home was delayed for two hours and then sitting on the tarmac in World's Busiest Airport waiting for our turn to take off, all said and done, I got into my hotel at... wait for it... 1:30a.m. And of course, I am not one of those people who sleep well in a new place the first night. They graciously turned our breakfast meeting into an early lunch (the PNC chair was the one who picked me up at the airport, so we were agreed on that) and then we drove around ('we' is me and three committee members) so I could see the area. I was worried about being in a car with three strangers for that length of time, but never once was I ill at ease, they were great. Then I did get to take a nap before dinner and they had a potluck with the committee and a tour of the church itself and then, of course, the questions. That went really well. I learned about the ghosts of pastors past, lots of the history, what sort of work they've done with presbytery, etc. I think we were all really comfortable with each other, and able to be honest about expectations.
I just hope that all goes well tomorrow. The sermon, not so worried about, children's sermon, whole other story. As a rule, I don't like them. Most of them are done poorly, that almost certainly includes mine. Plus, these aren't really children in the sense that most children's sermons are directed at the elementary crowd, these are 5-8th graders. Yikes! Not the age I'm most comfortable with, or at least not one I've dealt with much. I don't want to talk down to them, but I want to get the message across in an understandable way. Cross your fingers for me. Oh yeah, and some of those prayer things would be nice, too.

one down...

Well, I had phone interview one of two. This was the one with Church Much Nearer to My Family and I think it went well. I'm never sure about how I come across since I know I tend to ramble a little when I'm nervous. I did wonder how they would feel if they knew I was sipping a gin-n-tonic while I was talking to them. Just to calm the nerves. Probably bad form, but it did help. I felt like I asked good questions (some serious thanks go to previous RevGals "Ask the Matriarch" posts), but I actually wish they'd asked better ones. I got the oh-so-typical, where do you see yourself in 5-10 years, what are your strenghs/weaknesses, etc. I do so wish they'd get a little more creative. I think for the next one I'll write down some responses to these typical questions since, as I said, I tend to babble when I'm nervous. If I have something to look at, I can keep myself on track better, I hope.
But on the other hand, it seemed to go well, and I hope to hear from them again. They are a relatively young congregation, about 30 years old, I think, and seem to be pretty forward thinking and open-minded. I think we'd do well together. Plus, I think it'd be a great place for our family (yeah, I know, I've said that before).
The next one I'm actually having to do while I'm on vacation. Oh well, it's better to interupt 30 minutes of vacation than risk not having a job. At least there'll be lots of in-laws to help care for L while I'm on the phone. That call will be in the next couple weeks and I'll let you know how it goes.