One awesome interview!

Hi, everyone!

Well, my interview at NIACo went incredibly well. I was the first candidate they spoke with, which I consider to be a good thing. I've always liked being either the first person or the last: If you're the last, you're the easiest remembered although the hiring managers will be fatigued. If you're first, you get to set the bar for all other applicants to meet - exactly what I did! 

I spoke with both the office manager and the senior editor for the corporation for about an hour, then took a 30-minute copy editing test. This is after showing up 15 minutes early and explaining to the women how I drove by the day before just to have an idea where I was going. They were quite impressed with that as well as with my initiative to research the corporation and their industry itself. I gave them updated copies of my resume and clips, as well as business cards from the Herald that, while dated, gives them a the Web sites for the NorthWest News Group properties.  That way if one or both of them wants to go review my other pieces (all 1,400-plus) on-line she may do so. 

I finished the whole shebang by getting my thank-you card to the hiring manager in the mail. I didn't have an address or business card for the senior editor, so alas, no thank you for her. This elicited a short debate between Andy and me last night. He thinks sending a note saying "thank you for interviewing me, I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your company" is brown nosing. While that's probably true in a shop - where testosterone is king - I think it's good policy when applying in a more conservative, less crude environment. 

What do you all think? Please help settle this debate. 

Anyway, thank you again for all your prayers, lit candles and general wishes for good luck. Now I get to play the hurry up and wait game for the next few weeks while they make their decision.