That said, the recruiters I've worked with often ask, in a gently-couched sort of way, what my circumstances are (since I"m looking for a job with relocation)--do I rent or own, do I have someone else who would also need to be relocated, etc etc. Conveniently I've been able to answer that I am footloose and fancy free, but I"m not sure what I'd say otherwise!

Well, something like "I'm very able to relocate" or "I want to relocate" or "I would be unable to relocate". You can answer without getting into your marital and/or home owning status I'd think.

Though that could be fun too...

"Well, my husband and I discussed it... he wants kids next year but I want to wait TWO... so if we move I have a chance to get used to things before I put in for maternity.... Then agin, this is assuming no fertility concerns which is ::knock wood:: is great, you know? My sister Shirley did two rounds of IVF and then got pregnant on her own -- can you IMAGINE, twenty grand down the tubes! We inherited the house from my parents but we really want to sell it anyway, not our taste at ALL. If you relocate us even Aunt Bess will accept the fact that we had to sell."

I think my last answer to the goal question was, "I'd like to stay with the company for a while, as the industry is fascinating, but I've learned that life is a very flexible, unexpected thing, and focusing on goals makes you less able to respond to changing circumstances." IE, "Go ahead and talk to me about your five-year-plan, you 23-year-old twit, when your first child is born prematurely and you're suddenly saddled with $50,000 in medical debt, you'll revise your goals."

I think it is always helpful to here other people's answers to interview questions. a number of books are really helpful - but the stock answers are 1)stock 2) maybe be so wrong for you that you can't pull it off.

The flaw question was one I had to work on an answer. ( what is one of your flaws - and the ideal answer is something that your spouse might think is a flaw (like I never stop until I finish project) but is exactly what an employer wants). I never could find that fake flaw. But I found a real one, that I could use to that purpose.

for those interested: " I am a careful thinker and in this fast paced world customers often find this frustrating . Over time I have learned to share my thought process so that the customer feels a part of the process"

I lack ambition wrt work. I want less responsibility, more structure, a shorter commute, 9-5 hours, and I do not care what industry I work in. The work is not important to me at all, the environment is.

Change that to 10-6 hours, and that's my answer. Because my goals don't really have anything to do with my day job, but that's not something to tell interviewers.

An interesting trick that Interview Guru Guy suggested for phone interviews is to put a small mirror nearby and make eye contact with yourself as you're talking. If you're smiling, most likely it will make a difference in your voice. He cautioned you should try it first and practice, because sometimes it can weird you out at first.

Ooh, that is an interesting trick--and I can totally see how it would weird me out.

The one thing I like about phone interviews is that I can have notes and stuff around me, reminding me of my accomplishments and things I want to say and so on. In real interviews, not so much.

What's sad is that how you answer questions can be a lousy indicator of how you actually do the job. Nice way to have a glib set of incompetents end up managing your company.

No kidding. Do you want someone who interviews well, or someone who does their job well? I keep wanting to say, "Call my references! They'll do a much better job of telling you stuff about me!"

The one question I think I handled well was "Why do you still want to teach?" She was sort of apologetic about asking it, but I loved the question and I think it was really pertinent, and I think I was pretty convincing in my answer. Unlike the rest of the interview -- "Uh, well, um, I assessed them by... uh..."

However, I have been asked for samples of documents I'd prepared for previous employers, and well, patently not mine to distribute and I said so.

Same here. I was like, "Sorry; those documents are protected under the BIGGEST LEGAL AGREEMENT IN THE GALAXY. What else can I provide instead?" I ended up giving them a "writing sample" of a paper I'd written in college.

(It was actually just an ordinary separation agreement, but even if I'd kept copies, which I hadn't, it would have explicitly been a breach of my little contract-y thing.)

Personally, my ambition is to write fanfic and eat bonbons.

When I was last job-hunting, I realized that I can apparently write a good resume and cover letter and get interviews, but I either don't interview well, or interviewers were turned off by my physical appearance, because I never managed to get the job offer.

"I am a careful thinker and in this fast paced world customers often find this frustrating . Over time I have learned to share my thought process so that the customer feels a part of the process"

I like this one! It fits for me, as well, so I'll have to remember that. I do usually talk with or e-mail the person I'm helping with my progress on a research question to let them know where I'm at in resolving their question/problem so at least they know what's going on and that I haven't forgotten them.

The weirdest part of the layoff stuff I just had to sign was the part where I promised I wouldn't apply for work at the company EVER AGAIN. Now I understand they dont' want ot hire us back as contractors making more money, especially not right away, but...EVER AGAIN? Yeesh.

Though I doubt anyone I like will still BE there six months from now. Anyone who didn't get laid off is looking for a new job.