Body language of the Oraganization - My Interpretations : Part 2

I shall try to answer few more questions on what I will look for in a company during an interview. I could not write the blog very regular for last few months, because now I am working on most challenging project of my career.

Lets look at some of the questions.

1. How much time you have to wait in Lobby ?
2. How much time you have to wait to hear the written test result ?
3. How much time you have to wait for interview to start ?
   
   Actually these two questions are related. In way, it tells you how much company values your time. If the Company don't value your time at the first instance, then the chances are it won't value your time after joining either. Probably you will be working 12 hrs day, probably also on weekends. Most of the projects, in this company, will miss the deadlines.


4. What are the questions asked in interview ? Is interviewer judging your knowledge of arcane language syntax, your memory for API names etc. ? Did they ask you to write code ?
   
   I will be very uncomfortable if a team member in my team uses arcane language syntax regularly in his code. It means his code won't be readable and maintainable by the other team members. In the long run, it is bad for the project and for the company. But
   
   if the company doesn't understand this , then you will get blamed for delays.
   
   
   Understanding the concepts is more important that remembering API names. If you have worked in multiple technologies and languages and libraries then remembering API trivia is difficult and totally unnecessary. Usually now all the libraries have searchable help files. If you understood concept and design of the library, you can easily find out the function again.
   
   
   
5. How was the furniture in waiting room ? (e.g. Fancy, comfortable, utilitarian, etc)
If the furniture the waiting room is not comfortable, it is unlikely that your cubicles will be any better than that. Preferably ask them if you can see the work area.

Body Language of the Organization : My interpretations - Part 1

Writing a blog entry after a month. When I wrote the last entry, I was in Munich, Germany. Now I am back in India and heavily involved in a new challenging project. Last one month was hectic and I could not write anything.

As I promised, this time I am going to give my interpretations of the Body Language Observations. Remember these are 'my interpretation'. You may not agree with those interpretations. Feel free to add your interpretations and comments in the comments section. Lets look at one question at a time

1. How was your interview letter ? Did it had detailed instructions, maps etc on how to reach the office/place of interview ? Did the letter contains process of interview, approximate time it takes ? Does it say anything about transportation if the office is out of main city area ?

Most of the interview letters, just contain address and no map or instructions. Now this can be just inertia Or it can be because the Organization doesn't care enough to make it easier for you. But even the inertia is a symptom of Organizations culture. If the letter does not contain process of interview, approximate time it takes, what time you should reach there then the chances the Organization doesn't care enough about your time. Corollary is that probably it won't care about your time either after you join. So be prepared to overwork.

2. How the Security guard treated you ? - Like a Person or a transaction.

These observations tell you about the culture of the company. Personally, I like to be treated as person and not a transaction. Did Security Guard treat you a decent person or treated you as potential thief ? If the Security Guard treats you as potential thief, probably the company (and company policies) treat the employees in the same way.

3. How the Receptionist treated you ? - Like a Person or a transaction.
Again I like to work in a company where I am treated as individual and as a faceless/identity less entity.

4. How was the atmosphere in lobby ? (e.g. Like a dentists office, Alive, throbbing, uninterested)

I will like to work in alive, throbbing atmosphere. Are there any other company employees around ? what were they discussing ? Was the discussion animated or was it just a small talk ? It gives you an idea about the interests and enthusiasm of the people you will be working with. If you are spending 8-10 hrs with these people, make sure that you will like working with them.

5. Are there any books, magazines, news papers available in lobby ? Are there any technical magazines available ?
Again was the magazine available were old-old tattered issues like a waiting room , just news papers, or some recent issues of technical magazine. Did the magazines more like just business or more technical ? All these are small clues about what the company considers as important.

I will my thoughts about remaining questions in subsequent blog entries.

Body language of the Oraganization

The book 'Art of Innovation' has a interesting chapter on Body Language of Company. As you know verbal communication and communication from your Body Language can be different. Your posture and actions convey more about your thoughts than what you are speaking. In similar fashion, organizations also have Body Language the Verbal/Written communication from Organization may say 'employees are our most important asset' while the actions may give a totally different picture. If you are in the company for 4-5 years slowly you start missing these subtle communications. In this post, I am going to look at Body Language of the Company from the perspective of a candidate appearing for interview. Of course, I am no expert on Body Language, but these are what my interpretations will be.

Assume that you are appearing for a Interview in a Software Company. As the interviewer judges your body language and interest, you also have to judge the body language of the Organization. Ideally, the Organization should worry what its body language is saying to potential new hires. So in a way, this post is beneficial to both (hopefully).

This is what happens in a typical interview

1. You appear at the company door, security guard checks your interview letter
2. Security guard tells you to go to reception.
3. At reception you again tell that you are here for interview and you are asked to sit in the lobby.
4. The HR person arrives some time later and takes you to a room for some written tests
5. After the written test is over, you sit in the room for some more time.
6. HR person comes back and tells you if you are passed test or failed.
7. If you passed the test, you again wait for some one to interview you.
8. After the interview is over, you come out.
9. If the interview is in another city, you find out a way to get back to station/bus stop etc.

Most of interviews are this way. Lets look how to observe the Body Language of Organization.

1. How was your interview letter ? Did it had detailed instructions, maps etc on how to reach the office/place of interview ? Did the letter contains process of interview, approximate time it takes ? Does it say anything about transportation if the office is out of main city area ?
2. How the Security guard treated you ? - Like a Person or a transaction.
3. How the Receptionist treated you ? - Like a Person or a transaction.
4. How was the atmosphere in lobby ? (e.g. Like a dentists office, Alive, throbbing, uninterested)
5. Are there any books, magazines, news papers available in lobby ? Are there any technical magazines available ?
6. How much time you have to wait in Lobby ?
7. How much time you have to wait to hear the written test result ?
   
8. How much time you have to wait for interview to start ?
9. What are the questions asked in interview ? Is interviewer judging your knowledge of arcane language syntax, your memory for API names etc. ? Did they ask you to write code ?
   
10. How was the furniture in waiting room ? (e.g. Fancy, comfortable, utilatarian, etc)
    
11. Did company give you lunch in company canteen ?
12. What was talk/discussion topics the during lunch on your and other tables ?
    
13. Did company offer you any transportation to go back from office ?
14. How are the cubicles ? Did you see any speakers, books, novels, soft toys, loved one photographs, in cubicles ?
15. Did all the computers have same wallpaper and screen saver ?
16. How much you spent in total compared to what was general time stated in interview letter ?

Each of this question is important. I will give my interpretations in next installment. Mean while feel free to add your experiences and your interpretations.