Andy Lester the author of “Land the Tech Job You Love“ will be giving his talk “Effective Interviewing from Both Sides of the Desk.”  After the presentation Andy will be giving away a copy of his book and we will join TechThursdays@OfficePort, a weekly get-together where entrepreneurs, developers, new media types—and just plain people—can connect over a beer.

About the Presentation:

Interviews have too long been treated like interrogations, probing and testing candidates like they were fruit at a grocer. Effective interviewing reframes the interview as what it really is: the candidate’s first day on the job.

For job-seekers, topics include:

• How to prepare an effective portfolio that says more than words about your skills.
• Your primary goal at the interview.
• Using the power of stories to tell what self-description cannot.
• Understanding the process through the interviewer’s eyes.
• How to turn the interview into a working meeting.
• Five dreaded questions you must be able to answer, and how to answer them without fear.

For managers, you’ll learn:

• Effective pre-interview research
• How to increase your chances of choosing the best candidate.
• Increase your odds in judging cultural fit.
• Why you must ask the dreaded questions like “Where do you want to be in five years,” and how to ask them without asking them.

When: Thursday, January 21, 2010 – (lecture) 5:45pm – 7:00pm  (TECHThursdays) 7:00pm-8:30pm

Where: OfficePortCHI – 9 W. Washington, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL

Cost: Free – You must RSVP

Fellow Chicago Nerd Zach Schneider is going to be teaching web design/programming classes at Pumping Station: One.  The classes are free (donations are always accepted) and are a great way to get started in web design or to brush up on your skillz.

The first two classes have been announced and they will be:

• Introduction to HTML and CSS – October 7th @ 8pm
• HTML Elements and Attributes – October 14th @ 8pm

Pumping Station: One is located at 3354 N. Elston, Chicago, IL