Oh leftovers! You make lunch so easy.
Today’s midday meal included reheated butternut squash and wheatberry mock risotto paired with a whole wheat tortilla microwaved with two sticks of Colby jack string cheese (aka a super-fast quesadilla)!
And yes, I just microwaved the ‘dilla on a paper towel that I then used as my napkin in an effort to avoid more dirty dishes. Lazy or efficient?
Interviewing
A couple of days ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who is in the market for a new job. We started laughing about our past job interview experiences and had a good time sharing stories.
I remember interviewing for a position with the Orlando Museum of Art’s public relations and marketing department. The interview took place at the museum, about 30 minutes from my apartment at the time. I gave myself 50 minutes to get there, figuring I would use the extra time to compose myself and answer mock questions in my head.
Well, road construction coupled with detours that took me way out of the way made me about 10 minutes late. I was mortified. I am a very punctual person and couldn’t believe I was late and apologized profusely. Fortunately I got the job, but the experience left me totally paranoid and I’ve arrived at every other job interview way in advance.
One of the cooler interview experiences I had occurred when I interviewed for a marketing position with a new Whole Foods store that was opening in the area. After an initial interview, they had me put together a marketing campaign for the new store that I then presented to a panel of employees.
It was nerve wracking but I loved it because I was able to showcase ideas I had for the store and also interact with the people I’d be working with should I get the job. (The job was offered to a woman with more experience who was the marketing manager at another Whole Foods in the area and I was then asked to interview for a marketing position with one of their stores in South Florida, which I politely declined since I didn’t want to leave Central Florida at the time.)
I think the one question that I was asked in an interview that threw me off guard the most was, “If you could have breakfast with one famous person – dead or alive – who would you choose?”
It was a hard one because I wanted to give the right answer and I wasn’t sure if they were looking for an answer like George Washington or something less “cookie cutter” (and honest!).
Questions of the Afternoon
- Do you have any interviewing horror stories?
- What was the hardest question you’ve been asked in a job interview?
- How would you have answered the breakfast with a famous person question in an interview setting?
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I would choose to eat breakast with some famous musician like Trent from NIN, Florence from Florence and the Machine, or Bono from U2.
So how did you answer the breakfast question?? I would want to have breakfast with Tina Fey. Not only is she hilariously funny and would probably make me spit out my OJ, she’s also extremely successful and has a husband and family. A one woman show!
ha! i actually said a comedian, too. i said bill cosby because he’s successful, managed to keep his integrity throughout his career, is a family man and has overcome great tragedy while maintaining optimism.
this is a great answer, J!
I agree with Heather! (must be the name ;-)) – that is an AWESOME answer!
Dang…what a hard question. I have no clue what I would say. I hate questions that I don’t have enough time to think about long enough. I thought typing that last sentence (and this one) would give me time to think about who I would have breakfast with…but I still have no clue.
so what was your answer to the breakfast question? i was asked that as an ice breaker question 6 years ago… i picked john cusack! hahaha. you know what, i’d probably say the same in an interview, because they want to see that you have a personality in addition to your work skills. there was someone in the group who gave this canned response that was obviously just to sound smart, and you could see right through it!
exactly!! i didn’t want to be like “abraham lincoln” and have them just roll their eyes at me. i said bill cosby (see reasoning above in response to comment #2).
i mean, i’d still have said john cusack 6 years ago. he got a little too weird for my liking lately 😉 NOW i would say andrew mcmahon, the lead singer of jack’s mannequin. he makes the most beautiful music that inspires me every day and keeps me going.
i still need to make some of that risotto! sounds so good 🙂 interviewing for jobs is the worst! so nerve wracking… haha
That kind of question is ridiculous and meaningless. It deserves an equally ridiculous answer: Typhoid Mary, because then I’d have an excuse to skip this interview.
hired!
Besides having breakfast with Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers…probably Maya Angelou!
oh that’s a GREAT one. i love maya angelou.
What an interesting question! I’m not sure how I would respond! Maybe someone like Julia Childs!
For the interview for my last job, a cockroach ran across the floor. I ended up taking the job, worked my a** off for these insane hours and ultimately hated my job so much that I quit after less than two years. At first I thought the cockroach was a good sign, but now whenever I see one I know its an omen.
Why does it have to be breakfast? Couldn’t it be dinner?
At my last job, my boss was a complete psycho. She left me waiting for almost an hour for the interview which lasted about five minutes with her asking the most random questions in life. After I was hired, she failed to tell anyone that I was hired so when I showed up on my first day no one knew who I was or what I was supposed to be. Thankfully, I am not there anymore.
For the breakfast question I think I would answer the last pope. I’m not overly religious, but I am Polish and he played a huge role in getting Poland away from Communism and I think it would be amazing to be able to talk to him.
my old employer didn’t introduce new employees either. it was always so awkward when a new person joined b/c you’d run into them in the break room and have to be like, “you just started, right?” ehh. when i finally had my own team of writers, i made sure to introduce them around to TRY to avoid the awkwardness! i don’t think it caught on though b/c no one else seemed to do it with their teams. oh well.
That’s so cool that you had a WF interview. I think it’d be a great place to work. I’d probably choose a celebrity chef to have breakfast with… maybe Giada, Bobby Flay, Nigella, or Anna Olson… or maybe Michael Pollan – I’m sure I’d learn a ton from any of them!
I’d totally answer honestly… but choose a person in my pocket of fun people to have lunch with that also makes me sound impressive.
like… “david beckam. so I can look at him, listen to him speak, and do my laundry on his abdominals. because I am all about efficiency.”
clearly, I’d be the front runner after that answer.
LOL! i’d totally hire you. and then make sure you sat in the cubicle next to me to entertain me all day.
I had a second interview one time with a company, and these were my instructions: “Please prepare a 10 minute powerpoint presentation selling yourself to our company. You will present this on front of our team in 2 days. Be as creative as possible”.
That was it!
It was actually one of the best interviews I have ever had.I learned so much from it, and learned a lot about myself in the process!
that sounds like SUCH an intimidating assignment. i like SOME kind of perameters but i can see how it would make you really think creatively.
efficient!
For my second i-view here, I ended up about 10 minutes late (thank you, I-4 traffic)…I ended up parking in a garage way far away and RAN down Orange Ave several blocks in a pair of pumps. That was a priceless moment!
My summer after my senior year of high school, I went dropped off resume after resume (which only showcased one temp job), hoping to land an office job as opposed to a burger-flipping one. i finally landed an interview, only to have the guy say i was the worst interviewee he ever had! he was actually a really nice guy and gave me a lot of tips, but it was certainly a blow to the ego!
I always get tripped up on the “where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now” questions. I never have a good answer for that one!
I just have to say that I think your use of your paper towel for microwaving and your napkin is quite efficient if I do say so myself! I do the same thing! 😉
Oh the good ol’ interviewing days… How I don’t miss them!! I’m sure I’ll have several more in my future along the road, but as of now, I’m happy to not have interviews in my near future. I always get SO nervous. My stomach gets all weird, and I hate it. I really don’t like when they ask you what you think your good qualities are what you think your not-so-good aka bad qualities are. It’s such a tough question!
When I interviewed for my first teaching job (which is my current job five years later), the county language arts director gave me a blank sheet of paper, a pen, and fifteen minutes to complete an entire unit overview. Luckily, I had just finished my student teaching, so my unit was fresh in my mind! However, I was still extremely nerve wracked. Apparently she liked my answer because I was offered my position the next day!
I had one interview where the lunch they served me ended up giving me food poisoning! The 1.5 hour drive home was NOT pleasant. I think the most nerve-wracking question I ever got for an interview was, “why should I hire you?” Talk about cutting to the chase. I must’ve answered it correctly because I am still at the job 4.25 years later! 🙂
i hate questions like that b/c i always feel completely awkward talking about myself. ehh!
I have always hated the interview question, where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years? I never know how to answer this loaded question because I don’t know what people are looking for. I’m so happy my interviewing days are way behind me! I would always get so nervous!!!
I hate that question! My boss’s boss keeps asking me that periodically and each time I tell him I haven’t figured it out yet. I think he thinks I am hiding something or just don’t want to tell him. So weird!
I’ve never been late to an interview, but I have had an interview where there were 3 people there staring at me…..super awkward and kinda scary. I decided I didn’t like the place anyways, so I am glad that didn’t go through! I just didn’t like the ambience at all!
I like a microwaved ‘quesadilla’!! YUMM. And it is fast. Even better!
Cliche interview questions like that drive me bonkers! It makes me want to answer something really random… Maybe like Betty White. She is sassy 🙂
A marketing position at Whole Foods sounds like it would be a fun job!… But so is what youdo now 🙂
Wow you seem to have had it ‘easy’ lol…I was asked if I were a lesbian, married, pregnant and what my religious affiliations are…all questions illegal to ask! (answers: no, no, no and what does that have to do with planting trees)
i cannot believe you were asked those questions. that’s seriously insane and i wonder how long it will be until that company finds itself in some seriously hot water.
Oh nooooo! They’re a ‘christian’ based company, seond generation Julie! They will NOT go down in flames! I no longer work there….but while I did, I secretly wished for a black, gay, Jewish man to get a job there….
They even asked everyone in the company ‘how a black guy would do at this company’…..yeah…..really…..
I’m glad to be gone!!!!
What a tough question to answer. You always have to put your best B.S. face on for interviews, and if you don’t have a good BS face you better be creative on the spot! I probably would have said some kind of female athlete.
I remember one time I interviewed to work at an office and they rushed me in and out in less than five minutes.
Apparently they had just decided to hire the person ahead of me, so instead of just telling me that they had me wait to be interviewed. I was early so it was about a 15 minute wait, and then I had to answer rapid fire questions for a few minutes before they said they’d be in touch. I remember walking outside wondering what in the world just happened.
Wow! I never knew what a job interview would be like, or that it could have crazy questions like the breakfast one. Haha, i could answer questions like that all day. Like,” I would love to have breakfast with Thomas Jefferson” when in my mind i’m like ” Scratch that and make it Justin Bieber.” Now we’re talkin’ 🙂 But really, sounds weird, but i would absolutely LOVE to have breakfast with Jesus! Wow… i’m excited just thinking about it!
when I was about 15, I interviewed at a doggie daycare at the beginning of the summer.
My sister dropped me off for my interview and said she’d be back in an hour. We didn’t have cell phones so we had to make our plans that way.
When I walked into the interview, the first question the woman asked was “can you continue working throughout the school year”
I was busy with sports so I didn’t have time to work during school and when I said “no, sorry” she said, “ok, well that’s all then”
I had to sit outside the daycare for an hour waiting for my sister to come back for me!!!!
I would have breakfast with John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. He’s such a very diverse and interesting person and I’d love to talk to him!!
I’d probably say either Ben Franklin or Alexander Hamilton. I love both those guys! I think they would be a blast, educational and probably drunk, too. My current boss looked through my ipod, asked about my favorite movie, hobby, etc. It was nerve racking, but I must have answered correctly!
I think I would say I’d want to have breakfast with Giada DeLaurentiis or Bobby Flay. Because then not only are they successful in many ways (shows, books, etc.) but they could cook for me! Plus both of them seem very down to earth. I actually heard a story from a friend who went to one of Bobby’s restaurants. Her friend didn’t know who Bobby was so when he came to her table in his chef whites to ask how everything she was she just said, “I could use some more butter.” Best part? He brought her some himself! She found out who he was before he returned.
At an interview at the Treasury Department I was asked – how many hairs are there on a large dog and on a small dog? How would you work it out and give reasons for your answer.
Presume they were trying to understand how good you are at problem solving. Very weird!
so strange! what did you say?
Some nonsense about the big dog having more as all dogs (probably) have the same number of hair follicles per square inch! But it might depend whether it was a wide bulky dog or a skinny leggy one. I didn’t get the job anyway so I’m not the person to ask!
I’d have breakfast with Ina Garten because she’s sure to provide me with an amazing, rich breakfast!
I was just recently at an interview with a law firm. These interviews last several hours, so I expected to be asked some tough questions… among them: 1) are you a democrat or a republican? 2) Are you married? 3) How is your husband paying for medical school? 4) Do you like Adam Sandler movies?
Needless to say, I did not plan on answering any of those questions! I should hear soon whether or not I got the job! As for breakfast, I would take breakfast with Supreme Cort Justice Ruth Ginsburg. I just love that woman.
Oh my gosh I misspelled Court. That was a typo, I promise! For shame.
I despise interviews! I hate them! I honestly would rather stay at my current job forever just so that I can avoid interviewing 🙁 I just get bad anxiety and freak out about them … I’m not good at answering things on the spot!!!
I have a funny “bad interview” story though. I went on a lunch interview to a sushi place. At the time, I was in college and unaware of any kind of healthy eating … insert: edamame. We ordered some for an appetizer and as I was answering his questions, I put the whole thing in my mouth. I had no idea you were supposed to just eat the inside pods only! I was so embarrassed! 🙂
I sat down to an interview once, and the interviewer asked me if I smoked and wanted to go conduct the interview outside during a smoke break…..
I told them I did not smoke and ended up getting offered the job anyway. definitely not a professional interview.
Oh and I would absolutely positively LOVE having breakfast )or dinner) with Rush Limbaugh! Or Mark Levin. Or Sean Hannity! AWESOME!
I think the hardest question I’ve ever been asked (in multiple interviews) has been, “What are three of your weaknesses?” I *knoooow* that this is one of those questions where you’re supposed to spin the answer to your advantage (i.e., “I’m too concerned with submitting things by deadlines!”), but it’s so freakin’ difficult!
The hardest question I ever got was “how many wedding dresses were sold in Bulgaria last year”….ahem
I actually wrote about job interviews and how to ace them recently:
http://tomatoes-rock.com/?p=866
Oh Julie almost forgot… here is a fave recipe of mine for fall- iced pumpkin spice cookies! These are sooo stinkin’ good!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/iced-pumpkin-cookies/detail.aspx
I hope ya try it. And love it. And pass it down to your kids, and grandkids, and grand grand kids, and this is totally getting creepy. Or you could totally hand them the laptop. Yeah, that’ll work.
+1 on these cookies! I made them a few weeks ago and they were delicious.
I WANT THESE… NOW!
I hate those famous person questions because there’s never anyone I can think of! Haha I’m good! .And I totally do the same thing with the paper towel. It’s economical…
Good question! I’m gonna go with Mother Theresa!
I probably would have said Princess Diana. I LOVED her when I was a little girl and always thought she was so graceful and elegant…what a role model! I would still love to get a chance to eat breakfast with her, even though I’m now “all grown up”
In an attempt to create a connection with an interviewer, I commented on the picture of a dog on his desk. He said ‘She’s dying, thanks for bringing it up.’, then glared at me the rest of the interview. Did NOT get the job.
I’m such a paranoid spazz about being late to an interview that I generally do a ‘dry run’ at the same time I’d be driving there, a day or two beforehand.
I just had an interview a few hours ago! For a co-op position, but still! They are so unpredictible. I just always try and act how I always act, and tell the truth, and if they don’t hire me for the job I go on to the next one!
I actually don’t mind interviewing – it’s kind of nice to see how different environments work and function!
I interviewed just last week and one component that I didn’t like about it was going out to eat with the hiring manager. I like to relax when eating and not have to be “on,” so doing it during an interview is nerve wracking. Plus I don’t end up eating much because I’m talking and walk out starving.
As for choosing one person to eat breakfast with? I’d be honest since most other people won’t be and will give an answer they think the interviewer wants to hear.
During an interview, they asked me if I liked white chocolate. And I said white chocolate isn’t chocolate but coco fat and I wasn’t a fan. I honestly think that cost me the job since they loved every other aspect of me!
I was once asked what my favorite color was (this was for a position in the finance industry)I was totally stumped. I took a guess and said ‘yellow’ and apparently it was the right answer because that meant I was a ‘cautious person’ lol it was such a strange question to me..caught me off guard.
For breakfast I’d have to say Ellen Degenerous. She just seems fun and I’ve always wanted to meet her 🙂
what if your answer is both cookie cutter AND honest? I seriously would want to have breakfast with FDR and/or Eleanor Roosevelt. Does this shock you?