Job interview related

Even if you won't get the job, it can help you polish your skills at an interview. You can learn new things to do and to not do next time.

I say go for it.

I'd say do the interviews anyway. First of all, it'll give you interview experience -- you'll be more comfortable for the next interview for a position actually available. Secondly, you never know what might happen -- the person to whom the position has been promised may pass, or any other number of things may happen. You might be surprised.

My recommendation for your second question is: answer truthfully. I do a lot of interviewing/hiring. If I smell a snow-job you won't get the job. If you're honest and personable and intelligent, I can work with you as an employee.

During the interview just start taking off your clothes. Why not.

I'd say go on the interview anyway. First of all, the job can't be too "promised" to this other person, or they wouldn't be bothering to see you too. Obviously, they may have some small doubt about the person it's supposedly promised to. And look, anything can happen - I was pretty much promised a job some years ago, and then literally at the 11th hour, someone else got the job over me. Nothing's set in stone. Plus, if they like you, even if they hire this other person, there might be another job somewhere else within the company you might be right for. Or the person they hire might not work out - wouldn't you rather be their #2 choice instead of not even seeing them in case this person turns out to be a dud? Unless you're canceling out another interview for a sure thing, a job lead you'd like is never a waste of time. Good luck!

Unless the truthful answer is something that jibes with the company's policies, internal procedures, outlooks, and/or business models, don't tell the truth. Tell them something that you can live with for however many years you plan to spend with the company. Example: Even if you don't believe in working on weekends, but you're willing to do it for your career, go ahead and say "I don't mind coming in on weekends." Sure, it's not true, but it's an answer you can live with and, frankly, it's the answer you need to give if you want the job.

Now, if they say that the position they want to offer you is in Zimbabwe, and you are not willing to move there, then you need to be truthful because you can't live with that particular falsehood. You get the idea.

You of course need to tell the truth when you haven't down your homework, and you don't know what answer will mesh best with what the interviewer is asking. Which means you aren't well prepared for the interview. At that point, you might as well speak plainly so long as it isn't an obnoxious viewpoint.

Answer truthfully. If there are a lot of questions where you ask yourself this, it's probably a hint that you shouldn't be working there in the first place.

eta: Leave it to the lawyer to tell you to lie your pants off.

What Lisa said - the job I have now was one I was sure I'd never get, but I went on the interview anyway. When I met my future boss, I mentioned that I was also available for freelance work (I'm ALWAYS available for freelance work). I immediately signed a contract, and got steady work from her. So much so that a few months after the interview, she called me and made me an offer for full-time employment.

Anything can happen, and even if nothing comes of it, at least you got out of the house for a bit. After your interviews, treat yourself to a nice meal and start your weekend early.

FIXED

Going in half-cocked with a nearly empty bottle of jack will certainly make an impression.

Go anyways. You never know what might happen down the road. Plus, who knows, the fact that the job is promised may alleviate some of the tension and allow you and the interviewer a little less professional courtesy.

Go to the interview. Even if the job is 'taken', you might be able to swoop the gig anyways. If you can't do that but you nail the interview anyways, you'll be in the loop for the next opportunity that opens up...you might also get a recommendation for another gig from the interviewer.

Yeah, 'cause none of us ever succeeded being honest.

Everybody is telling you to answer truthfully, I say that depends. You shouldn't be so honest as to impact you negatively.

Obviously don't lie about skill, the more specific and technical the skill, the easier it is for an interviewer to trip you up. I've seen it countless of times.

However, you do want to make yourself look positively, even if the interviewer is asking a question he/she shouldn't? I remember at a company that I was an intern, they asked me how I felt about over time. I answer that I had no problem with it, as a matter of fact, I quite enjoyed it as an intern. I was partially lying of course, the right answer is, overtime sucks, specially when you don't pay me. But I felt this answer would make sure that one moron that asked it wouldn't disqualify me for something that shouldn't have really been asked in the interview.

So yeah, be honest, but not too honest. It's a balancing act.

And do go for the interview, chances are you will not get the job because they already have somebody in mind. But it will help you polish up your skills. Make sure you practice turning the interview around, and interviewing the company itself, to me that's the most important attitude toward interviews. Plus, if I see a candidate that doesn't ask me much of anything, that's a big warning sign for me.

Go for the experience. Also, it's always good to write down what questions they asked, what you could have said better, etc after the interview.

Definitely go to the interview. Even though the position is going to someone else, if the other candidate turns out to be a lemon, and you knock the interview out of the park, your phone might ring. Never give up the chance to get yourself out there, even if it's hopeless. Best of luck!

Fuck the interview. Stay home and smoke marijuana.

You are naive.

You know, Overlord is right on this one. That is exactly what you do in an interview.

Negative answers to some of those questions are often flagged, even if it turns out that they're not going to work you every weekend (although asking the question is a warning sign).

Hey this is coming from somebody who actually interviews people, so if you don't want to believe it that's fine.

You are savvy.

I thought you were closer on the first go-round actually, but it probably depends on the job. Being selectively honest is probably better than lying outright.

For instance, if you're asked about familiarity with a certain type of software and you lie, then you're going to be screwed on any follow-up questions that might result. Then they know that you not only don't have that particular skill, but that you're a liar... and they have to wonder what else you may be lying about in the interview and on your resume. But if you stretch the truth by saying you have a little experience in that particular area, then emphasize the point that you pick up on new software in no time and maybe give an example, a lot of interviewers will give you the benefit of the doubt.

I've interviewed a number of people and it almost always comes down to whether the applicant seems smart, trainable, and personable - not whether he or she answered "No" to question 3B on the interview form. Unless it's something fundamental to the job, of course. Granted, since I've always interviewed writers, I've put at least as much weight on writing and editing tests as on interview skills. You can't lie on those.