[Rhodes22-list] Results Of My Job Interview

[Roger Pihlaja]

Slim,

I was the only candidate interviewing at Isotec that day.  So, unless they
do crayfish boils on a frequent basis, I'm assuming I will be the only
candidate that got invited to one.  So, yeah it's probably a good sign.  I
certainly acted like it was part of the interview.  If nothing else, at
least I got a good dinner out of the deal!

Roger

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 2:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Results Of My Job Interview


> Roger,
>
> You didn't say that the other candidates were invited to the crawfish boil
> so I'm assuming you were the only one.  I would view that as a real coup.
> Sometimes those social functions serve as part of the interview.  You got
an
> extra interview segment that the other candidates did not.  When the
> employees get back to work the next day, they mention to the boss:  "Hey,
I
> liked that guy, Roger."  It can't hurt.  Good luck!
>
> Slim
>
> On 5/8/03 9:02 PM, "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402 at centurytel.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi Everybody,
> >
> > I just got back form Georgia.  The interviews went well.  I was the 3rd
> > candidate out of a total of 5 they are interviewing.  They said they'd
get
> > back with me one way or the other by May 19th.  The position was not
what I
> > was expecting.  They really want more of a plant or operations manager
as
> > opposed to a technical manager.  Initially, I'd be taking about a 20%
pay cut
> > vs. my last salary at the Dow Chemical Co. , but down the road there'd
be
> > stock options & other perks that would probably make up most of that
> > difference, assuming the company does well.  In a small company, as
plant
> > manager, I'd have quite an impact on whether the company does well or
not.
> > I'm a little concerned about the company's senior management & order of
> > succession.  Isotec is privately owned with the bulk of the shares in
the
> > hands of present CEO & his two sons.  The present CEO is 65 & will
surely
> > retire in the foreseeable future.  Neither of his sons want to run the
> > company.  I'm a little concerned that they might sell out to some larger
> > player in the urethanes business, which could make the current plant
manager
> > persona non grata...They sort of hinted that I might be a candidate to
take
> > over the CEO spot when he retires?!?  I'm thinking, "Yeah right, you
just met
> > me 2 hours ago & now you're telling me you want to groom me for a chance
to
> > buy into your family owned business & run it in 3-5 years?"  That's real
> > credible!  Either I REALLY impressed them or they think midwesterners
don't
> > have a lick of sense.
> >
> > On a more personal note, I got invited to a real down south crawfish
boil
> > right on the plant floor in the shipping dept.  I met with the CEO
twice,
> > right in the beginning & right at the end.  During my wrap-up interview,
we
> > got to talking about my experiences with southern cultureI was living in
> > Russellville, AR from 1987 - 1990.  I happened to mention that one of
the
> > things I really missed about Russellville were the crawfish boils at the
> > plant.  Well, apparently they were just happening to be having a
crawfish boil
> > that very evening & would I like to come.  Well, that decision was a
> > no-brainer.  So, that's where I had dinner & got to meet most of the
employees
> > & their families.  One of the wives couldn't believe a yankee knew
anything
> > about how to peel crawfish, so I challenged her to a race.  We each had
to
> > peel & eat 30 crawfish.  It was pretty close, but she beat me by about
two
> > crawfish!  I told her we'd have to try that again when I've practiced a
little
> > more.  It was a lot of fun & they made me feel real welcome.
> >
> > I stayed overnight in Canton, GA.  On Thursday, I explored the town &
> > surrounding area a little bit.  I drove over to Lake Allatoona.  They've
had
> > so much rain lately that the lake is 6 feet about normal summer pool.
Many of
> > the day use areas, beaches, & camp grounds were flooded.  So, the area
was not
> > looking its best.  But, I could still tell it's quite beautiful.  I
visited a
> > couple of marinas to check on boat slips.  It looks like a 25 foot slip
with
> > water & electricity will cost about $85/month.  There's also quite a bit
of
> > real estate for sale around Lake Allatoona within a 20 mile drive from
Canton.
> > Lake Allatoona itself is about 5X bigger in area than Sanford Lake,
where I
> > currently live.
> >
> > So, the job search goes on.  Stay tuned.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> >
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