Brisbane Job - Planetarium - Support Officer

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Bipshop2k - do you work for BCC?

Dave

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

No, UQ... But I am currently working on a few projects that involve the BCC, for example I was responsible for putting wireless on the CityCats.

One of these projects may have just massively broadened in scope, which might have to be considered if I was to have a look in at this position.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Ah...good luck with the role!

Dave

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

Well I'm confident I'll do well in the interview, but I'm sure the competition will be fierce.

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

As an update, I was pretty happy with how it all went, but it was my first time inside the Planetarium itself and it's surprisingly difficult to orient yourself quickly in there. The projected 'night sky' requires a bit of imagination to visualize it against what the sky really looks like - light polluted or otherwise.

Has anyone else found this? It left me grasping at one point which isn't a good look in an interview for a Planetarium presenter position!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Bishop2K

As an update, I was pretty happy with how it all went, but it was my first time inside the Planetarium itself and it's surprisingly difficult to orient yourself quickly in there. The projected 'night sky' requires a bit of imagination to visualize it against what the sky really looks like - light polluted or otherwise.

Has anyone else found this? It left me grasping at one point which isn't a good look in an interview for a Planetarium presenter position!

Hi Scott,
Many I know including myself have exactly the same problem inside the dome. Your eyes are quickly taking in more than a normal sky and you are under a bit of pressure, so it is easy to get dis-oriented for a while. I wouldn't worry too much, that is something that will come very quickly working in the dome and I would hope that is taken into account. Surely what should be most important is - Can you do the job required, Can you talk to a wide ranging audience and Do you fit with the team already there. I think you will fill those criteria well.
(No - I didn't apply for the position)
Good luck
PeterM.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by PeterM

>snip
(No - I didn't apply for the position)
Good luck
PeterM.

…..although Peter, your infectious enthusiasm, passion for the hobby, two SN discoveries and classical good looks would undoubtedly put place you on pole position!

Cheers

Dennis

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Dennis

…..although Peter, your infectious enthusiasm, passion for the hobby, two SN discoveries and classical good looks would undoubtedly put place you on pole position!

Cheers

Dennis

Hey Dennis,
I'm off topic now - sorry folks, but Classical Good Looks - that is really, really funny.. classical as in Moore, Hubble, Messier, probably not (or maybe?) .....hmmm a better description might come from from Little Britains Lou describing Andy .... "how can I describe him... he's not conventionally attractive". And now you want to place me on a pole - well that was sort of done years ago when my jocks swung in the breeze on the Astrofest flagpole (1994?) now who can remember that I wonder?
Back on topic, I wish Scott very well. I am very surprised (Gargoyle) Steve didn't get an interview as from what I know about him he too would have been a good choice. Steve, I hope you didn't write Gargoyle in your CV - might have scared the the kids (joke)....
PeterM.

[astroron (Ron)]

I found that the same when I was interviewed about 5 years ago I couldn't even recognize Sirius
And yes I felt lousy

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

It's hard to demonstrate your knowledge of the sky when you have to fall back on using the pointers and Crux to find South

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Volans (Peter) works, (or used to work?) at the Brisbane Planetarium – I wonder if this is a second position or has Peter moved on?

Its a third position - Peter is alive and well and so is the other Peter. Good luck Scott, the lucky victor will be assisting me set up the AAQ meetings every month!

I assume that one of the interview questions was "Are you willing to change your name to Peter" - that way it well save Mark a lot of effort in remebering names.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Originally Posted by PeterM

.. I am very surprised (Gargoyle) Steve didn't get an interview as from what I know about him he too would have been a good choice. Steve, I hope you didn't write Gargoyle in your CV - might have scared the the kids (joke)....
PeterM.

Peter I really appreciate your comments - I guess it goes without saying that I thought I would have been a good choice for that position too .. and no, well actually Yes I did mention the word Gargoyle, but only because it was in the name of my old computer business.

Still, as much as my enthusiasm and passion and various "outreach" activities should have been strong positives for me, there is no way that my technical background could compete with Scott's for relevance to this position.

So now I'm looking backwards to look forwards - perhaps for a start I need to go back to studying and gain some new qualifications in more relevant fields, most of my current qualifications are in the Telecommunications / Electronic fields. Then I can see what happens next.

The path to the Dream Job may be longer and more diverse than I had hoped!

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

On reflection, it was one of the more unusual interviews I've been part of, on either side of the desk.

I wasn't pushed on technical, you can't really demonstrate presentation style without a brief and preparation time and they didn't have much time to profile me face to face.

Unless I missed the point entirely, I think it was a 'get to know the applicant' type of deal. Maybe you can just get a feel for someone for that kind of job after letting them in the door based on their resume.

Anyway, I've said more than enough in an open forum about this, so I'll go back to lurking...

[firstlight (Tony)]

I also got an interview on Monday, which I think went well. However that was before I saw this thread, I would think that Scott has the inside running on the technical side as well as astronomy. I can only hope that Scott decides that the "other" job is more fulfilling and declines if he gets the gernsey (subtle hint ).

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

Well I didn't get it. Mark rang me late today to let me know.

All the best to the rest of the applicants.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Sorry to hear Scott, thanks for sharing.

If you are up for some travel, there are often technical jobs with the AAO I get notified of - I'll look you up if you like

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Bishop2K

Well I didn't get it. Mark rang me late today to let me know.

All the best to the rest of the applicants.

Awww bugger oh well never give up

[Bishop2K (Scott)]

Hahaha, yuh. No biggie, I couldn't really see the Minister of Finance approving anyway. Would have been an interesting career change though.

I've now got another very good reason to finally get up there to see the show... after I submit this damned thesis that is. It will be interesting to see who gets the role, go Tony go!

[firstlight (Tony)]

Thanks for the encouragement Scott, but I also got a call from Mark this afternoon... He said that he couldn't say who got it, but it wasn't me. I tried not to get my hopes up, but this is my dream job... astronomy day and night.

I'm a bit disappointed

[PeterM]

Scott and Tony I am sorry to hear that. You are both high achievers in your areas with your contributions to amateur astronomy, this is just a hiccup along the way. Whoever gets it will no doubt be well deserving. they will know they had some very strong competition.
PeterM.