Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Organisational Culture Jc Penney free essay sample

Do you think JC Penney was legitimized in designating Mike Ullman, an outcast, as CEO rather than Vanessa Castagna, taking into account that Castagna was instrumental in pivoting JC Penney in the mid 2000s? Before long subsequently, Castagna left the organization. What are the upsides and downsides of â€Å"bringing in an outsider† and advancing from within†? Talk about too the effect of such choices on the spirit of the workers. JC Penney is a mid range chain of American retail chains, which was first begun by James Cash Penney 1902, when he was offered a 33% organization in another store with Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan called The Golden Rule. The store was a dry products and apparel store in Kemmerer, Wyoming and from here the chain spread quickly all through the United States changing its name to JC Penney in 1913 when James Penney took a more prominent responsibility for chain. At about this time a few accomplices met at Salt Lake City to draft â€Å"The Penney Idea†, a lot of business rules that were to direct the business from that point on. We will compose a custom paper test on Authoritative Culture Jc Penney or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Wikipedia. com saw ninth September 2007. Throughout the years the chain of the retail chains kept on developing through a framework where the supervisors put value into their stores giving them more authority over what was sold. Subsequently the marketing framework was decentralized while every one of its rivals had an increasingly brought together framework permitting them to recognize what was available at any one time, what was moving and what was not; and to have the option to promote on a national premise. With the serious rivalry found in the retail area in the late 1990s, JC Penney started to discover its place in the market was feeling the squeeze and benefits started to decay. At this stage it made the new arrangements of Allen Questrom as the CEO and Vanessa Castagna as the new COO. Castagna came to JC Penneys with a lot of promoting experience picked up from other retail chain stores. With this experience she helped Questrom pivot JCP by incorporating the purchasing framework, diminishing the quantity of lines sold, shutting down non performing outlets and reimaging the lines offered to the customers.This in addition to the selling of some of the company’s different interests left it in a generally excellent budgetary position keeping away from what resembled conceivable fiasco. These progressions carried JCP into line with its rivals and in doing this Castagna indicated magnificent administration abilities. The offer market additionally affirmed, as can been seen with sha res ascending from about $20 when she joined the organization in 1999 to over $40 when she quit in March 2005, as can be seen in Diagram1. Chart 1 http://contributing. businessweek. com/research/stocks/diagrams/graphs. sp? symbol=JCP saw ninth September 2007. Despite the fact that Castagna demonstrated incredible administration abilities she didn't really show the vision or authority aptitudes that were important to make JCP the following stride further were it could pull in, train and keep great staff just as present another picture that would energize and draw in new clients and guarantee old clients continued returning. Kotter (1996, pg 25) expressed, â€Å"Management is a lot of procedures that can keep a confused arrangement of individuals and innovation running smoothly.The most significant parts of the executives incorporate arranging, planning, sorting out, staffing, controlling, and critical thinking. Authority is a lot of procedures that makes associations in any case or adjusts them to fundamentally evolving conditions. Initiative characterizes what the future ought to resemble, adjusts individuals to that vision, and moves them to get it going in spite of the impediments. † When Myron E. Ullman joined JC Penney as Chairman and CEO late in 2004 he found that the organization had kept up an unbending old world culture that disheartened newcomers and smothered innovative thinking.Morale among workers was high, however simply because the organization had quite recently dodged catastrophe and Ullman felt to expand confidence and hold quality staff the way of life inside the association needed to change drastically. He had a dream to take the organization to the business initiative level through the â€Å"Long Term Plan† which has been refreshed in the course of the most recent few years and can be summed up as follows: Annual Report (2006, Pg 4) †¢Develop solid suf fering associations with clients †¢Inspire clients with our product and administrations †¢Being the favored decision for a retail vocation Establish JCP as the development chief in the retail business Unlike Castagna, Ullman has shown high intellectual authority capacities permitting him to see the hidden issues inside JCP and follow up on them with inventive thoughts. Of the five factors that make up Cognitive Intelligence, he shows significant levels in every one of them. †¢Experienced in retail industry. Accumulated data about JCP before acting †¢Creativity was appeared through in scope of social change activities †¢Recognised when individuals are locked in with work they relate better to clients †¢Showed farsightedness through the â€Å"Long Term Plan† Putting 164 hrs into Retail Academy indicated transparency Ullman has demonstrated that he is Strategic Leader as appeared by Daft (2005, Pg 510-53). †¢His Mission was straightforward and it was to take the organization to the Industry Leadership Level. This gave the association something to focus on for the future, built up a standard of greatness and it reflected high beliefs. †¢The Mission is as the â€Å"Long Term Plan†. It characterizes the JCP’s character, basic beliefs, remains for the most part steady over a multi year time span and gives a premise to making the Mission. The system detailing is the social change activities that were required t o manufacture a client centered culture. Tragically Castagna left her situation as the COO just a few months after Ullman started in his job, as together, while thinking about their capacities, they would have made a generally excellent group. Anyway considering the administration aptitudes and capacities that Ullman brought to JCP, it was a bet that merited the hazard that the board took. Stone (2005, pg 192) records the accompanying favorable circumstances and disservices of advancing from inside or outside an association: From OutsideAdvantages †¢Pool of Talent is greater †¢New experiences, aptitudes and skill can be brought into the association †¢It is now and then less expensive and simpler recruit workers †¢Outside representatives are not individuals from existing factions Disadvantages †¢Attracting and choosing new representatives is progressively troublesome †¢New worker modification and direction takes longer †¢Morale may endure among existing representatives who have been ignored †¢Incumbent’s execution or character is beneath what was normal or is satisfactory From WithinAdvantages †¢Have information on candidate’s qualities and shortcomings †¢Candidate definitely knows the association †¢Employee spirit and inspiration are upgraded †¢Return on interest in preparing and advancement is improved †¢Can produce a progression of advancements †¢Organisation needs to enlist just section level competitors Disadvantages †¢Employees may advanced past their degree of capability †¢Employee infighting for advancements can influence confidence †¢Inbreeding can smother imagination and advancement †¢System can become bureaucratic Excellent preparing and improvement programs become essential One would possibly picture the effect on resolve when the head on an association was sourced from outside the gathering and afterward to discover the COO, whom it was broadly expected to have taken on this job, to offe r her renunciation and leave. The temperament at JCP which was very high in light of the ongoing pivot in money related fortunes would disseminated rapidly. Anyway the low confidence that had come about would have pivoted once the social activities that were actualized begun indicating beneficial outcomes. A few experts consider that culture change is driven from the top, while, others state that the framework drives change, not top administration. Give your remarks with reasons. DuBrin, Dalglish and Miller (2006, Pg. 429-30) characterize hierarchical culture, in three segments: †¢The Artifact Level This incorporates the physical design of the premises, the phrasing, the signs, customs and accounts of the association. On account of JC Penney, this would incorporate such things as the desire to consistently dress officially, the prohibition on finishing and customizing desk areas and the tending to of chiefs in a conventional way. The Value Level This is the individual’s feeling of what should be, as particular from what seems to be. These are proclamations made about the association, what it does, and how it does it, which mirror the way of life. The Penney Idea is a case of this, the record upholding qualities, for example, being pleasing, moral administration, frugality and the requirement for workers to act with a specific goal in mind both at work and at home. †¢The Underlying Set of Assumptions These presumptions create when esteems beco me so dug in they are underestimated and are thought to be unchangeable. In the wake of being in presence for more than one hundred years JCP had dug in values that would take purposeful endeavors to change. DuBrin, Dalglish and Miller (2006, Pg. 430) likewise recognize four manners by which the hierarchical culture can be affected: †¢The convictions and estimations of the associations organizer. James C Penney purchased his first shop in quite a while, the CEO until 1917 and stayed as the Chairman of the Board until 1946 and after that as the Honorary Chairman until his passing in 1971, Wikipedia. com saw ninth September 2007.With this long association and the association bearing his name it is anything but difficult to un

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Pablo Picasso Founder Of Cubism Essay Example For Students

Pablo Picasso Founder Of Cubism Essay Questioner: This clasp we are venturing out to run into two commended painters of the twentieth century. They are capable ; they are commended and one twenty-four hours their pictures will be 1000000s, however a few people have confidence in this and some do non. These inventive people are the delegates of the cutting edge craftsmanship. One of them, Pablo Picasso is a Spanish-conceived artist, sculpturer and painter, most popular as a fellow benefactor of the Cubism movement. Our second invitee is Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian painter and sculpturer who works in the impressionist way. The primary request to both of you: what way do you by and by allude your photos to? Cause you to accept about it when you deal with your image? Is it of import for you or non? Amedeo Modigliani: I am discerning of the way that because of a portion of my plants I am alluded to brave. These are the depictions of my companions and familiarities Jacques Lipchitz and his wedded lady Berthe, Max Jacob, Jean Cocteau and Chaim Soutine ( Amedeo Modigliani ) . Individuals call these works Modiglianis and area that these depictions have a similar way. I can non judge. I am an imaginative individual. I do non be after the way yet attract adjustment to my temper, motivation and sentiments. My photos are extremely enthusiastic ; they are creature. I do non take lines and colourss. Something more confounded than my manus delivers the pictures of my plants. All things considered, I can see that there are a few characteristics of Impressionism in my plants. Pablo Picasso: I am viewed as the laminitis of Cubism as you have just referenced. All things considered, I allude myself to along these lines of craftsmanship. Notwithstanding, I do non dismiss the idea that individuals change in the class of clasp. In this manner, their considerations, purposes and messages can other than adjust. I am non sure that I will stay in this craftsmanship way and will non want to introduce some new considerations in my work. Everything changes and it is simply. I attempt non to accept about it when I paint. I simply paint what my inventiveness provides for me. During the system of painting I do non accept of Cubistic strategies. It is non of import to me. What of import is the thing that I need to reflect. I just allude myself to present day imaginative people. Questioner: What impacted your assurance to go an inventive individual? Was it a self-produced assurance or a characteristic reason for levels? Did individual impact your pick? Amedeo Modigliani: I experienced childhood in the Italian state Tuscany. It is an extremely pleasant topographic point that is acceptable known for its writing ( Boccaccio, Dante ) . Possibly it was the ground of my pick. Perhaps its because of the mysterious vibe of the topographic point that I at any point looked for the organization of artists and creators. In spite of the fact that the vast majority of my pictures are propelled by my home in France, my thought process can be simple followed back to my youngster in Italy. My folks gave me a great guidance and along these lines permitted me to be comfortable with the universe of workmanship, especially with poesy and writing. My female parent was extremely conflicted about my in the future ( Amedeo Modigliani s life ) . She anticipated my bringing in craftsmanship. In 1898 I began my drawing classifications. I began to paint genuinely frantically. I even disregarded my school work. I got my image exercises from a teacher and painte r Guglielmo Micheli in Livorno. His photos had a place with an Italian way of painting which is known as Impressionism. Bing an immature I became truly ill a few times. I other than had TB. During these hard yearss I had various dreams. My head gave me arranged pictures and I chose to manifest them in my photos. In this manner, I turned into an inventive individual. Later my female parent took me toward the South of Italia and I visited a few exhibition halls. Model propelled me and I other than turned out to be extremely much joined to it. Pablo Picasso: Well, my pick of things to come calling was rather advocated. My male parent Josã © Ruiz Blasco was a teacher of drawing ( Pablo Picasso s Biography ) . Along these lines my unordinary take a stab at painting started to verify itself when I was a 10-year-old male youngster. I considered troublesome and in a matter of seconds I had the option to exceed expectations my male parent s capacities. My male parent gave me a great help. He helped me to take hypothetical records for my plants furthermore assisted with framing my first display when I was just 13. I other than went to the craftsmanship institute in Barcelona. Questioner: What or who impacts your work? Where make you take the musings for your photos from? What is the start of your motivation? Amedeo Modigliani: Well, yes of class there is some impact. There are individuals who made me regard them for what they had done known to man of craftsmanship. There are a few of them. Toulouse-lautrec. I like the way he caused his shapes to be implicative and how completely he characterized the subject of his plants. For me his plants appear to be a cutting edge check of those aesthetic guidelines I am as of now familiar with. The incomparable Cezanne goes straightaway. Pretty much every innovative individual in Paris who professes to have a place with the challenging movement would make reference to this splendid character. This incredible grown-up male instructed me to chop down signifiers to rudimentary geometric structures ( the first stairss in the method of dynamic workmanship! ) and to level pictures. The models of Romanian inventive individual Brancusi resuscitated my affection to mold. He extraordinarily affected the way I portray a human figure. Additionally, I could non t ravel by the European old style workmanship. Pablo Picasso Quotes EssayInterviewer: Looking back at your plants, for outline, one of them that have been publically questioned, what did you mean by this or what was your captivation with that ( whatever is entrancing or contested about that bit of craftsmanship ) . Amedeo Modigliani: One of my generally celebrated and at a similar clasp disputable picture is Le Grand Nu a depiction of an exposed youthful grown-up female. Numerous individuals contend and I am sure they will reason about who is delineated in this image. Numerous individuals consider that I delineated Jeanne. That is close to one of numerous suppositions. I am non making a trip to state you whether this is valid or non. Be that as it may, the main idea of this image is that each grown-up female when naked has no name. She is lovely and even sharpen in her exposure, especially for him who sees her. Also, that is reality of life and one of its absolute best pieces. Pablo Picasso: Many requests are raised about the noteworthiness of my composition Acrobata nutrient E giovane equilibrista . There are a cluster of readings about who this miss is and what the people on this picture speak to. Be that as it may, I am making a trip to remain soundless and state you nil yet simply a certain something. On the off chance that you need to understand the criticalness of this canvas endeavor to think why a miss is so subtle and delicate and why a grown-up male is so colossal and strong. Questioner: Being, permit us state, in 2011, OK sort today s craftsmanship as workmanship? Pablo Picasso: Yes, of class! As we as a whole know, each time and even decennary or less can completely modify individuals s perusing and perceptual experience of workmanship. New habits and tendencies can look each twelvemonth and, as our ain delineations can demo, if individual does non comprehend a message of an image or can non understand it, it does non expect that this image does non have a place with workmanship. Craftsmanship is an entangled substance that can non be deciphered at a case. Amedeo Modigliani: At this point I concur with my companion. Workmanship is something that can non be gotten a handle on at a moment. What's more, indeed, I would sort 2011 s workmanship as craftsmanship on the off chance that I got an opportunity to populate in those occasions. Questioner: Should a painter sell his pictures for enormous aggregate of cash so as to hold the option to be known as a fruitful and skilled painter? What are the measures that indicate a continuous painter? Do you see yourself effective? Do you accept your photos will be increasingly costly in 50 mature ages? Amedeo Modigliani: The grown-up male that can non go forward behind everything that is old and spoiled is non a grown-up male, yet an agent. You endure, you are correct, yet ca nt suffering capacity to happen yourself and to do your fantasy more grounded than your craving? ever permit your stylish requests beat your cultural obligations ( Amedeo Modigliani life ) . This is non simply my ain slant, however this is the means by which the majority of youthful individuals think in the start of the twentieth century. This is only an age of developments and the faith in the old qualities is lost everlastingly. I have no useful demeanor to life. I am a sentimental. I am non sure individual needs my image now. Consequently I am non sure at all that individual in future would wish to buy them. On the off chance that it happens㠢â‚ ¬Ã¢ ¦well it will mean to me nil, will it? I will be as of now a segment of the other universe and will non cognize about it. Of class, each inventive individu al fantasies about being well known and the affirmation of his blessing and achievements. In any case, I do non cognize, I m non sure㠢â‚ ¬Ã¢ ¦ An effective innovative individual is individual who is happy with his specialty, who enjoys his work. Be that as it may, does this mean being fruitful according to others? I can non answer that. Pablo Picasso: I am a grown-up male of workmanship, yet I other than have yearnings. At the point when I was juvenile figure needed to buy my photos. Anyway these days individuals know me and I sell my plants. Of class, it is difficult to be a decent painter if your motivation is to do pictures for sell simply. In any case, we as a whole expectation that one twenty-four hours a mogul enters our studio and pays sensibly for what we do. All things considered, we can only trust. I believe myself to be rather effective. I accomplish something others pay for. That is a stage of progress. Be that as it may, I other than need individuals non to cover my plants inside in any event a decadeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Is it exorbitantly strong to woolgather about it? I want to populate up to those occasions when I am genuinely famous㠢â‚ ¬Ã¢ ¦ Questioner: Well, men of honor, thank you extremely much for your earnest answers. We wish you new contemplations, fresh starts of motivation an

Friday, August 21, 2020

Notes on the Interview

Notes on the Interview Please note that, as of August 2018, our process for assigning interviews has changed (though Chris other observations remain accurate). A description of the current interview process is posted here.   Here in Cambridge, Autumn is slowly creeping in. You dont notice her at first but there are telltale signs a hint of gold above the treetops, an orange leaf carelessly strewn along a sidewalk, the squirrels anxiously scuttering about, storing away their last hoards before the winter. I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that many trees have started to don a new coat of warm ochre when I was strolling down Memorial Drive. I must say, it was quite a relaxing escape from the frustratingly esoteric 7.012 test this week that no one (okay, Im generalizing here perhaps its only me) understood. That was my big :( moment of the week, but the trees and the beautiful afternoons along the river cheered me up. Its a standing joke in Taiwan that we only have two seasons in a year wet and hot and wet and not-so-hot. Its quite an experience to be in a place where the trees change color according to the seasons. Saurav from India asks, My interview is within 3 weeks, so I want to know how you prepared for your interview. What questions did you ask the EC? What aspects of yourself did you share with your EC? What questions stymied you? I know probably for a lot of RA students, this is one of the most pressing questions on your mind right now, so I kinda wanna address this issue. First off, I want to direct you (as this has been done many times before), to these two excellent blogs on the subject of interviews. I read both of those blogs when I was applying, and I thought to myself, meh, its just the same-old words of comfort that adcoms offer to students, and proceeds to skim the blogs without really reading them. Now that I have been through the whole application process, I re-read those blogs and was surprised by their sincerity and verisimilitude. Those blogs are really not words of comfort they are advice to help you do well. If I had to pick one really good piece of advice, I would keep this list to heart. Now that you have heard from the admission folks, Ill give you my spin on the interviewing process. Some background: during the application season, I (mistakenly, in hindsight) applied to 15 colleges. Out of the myriad of colleges that I applied to, I received eight interview notices. Thus, I went through eight interviews over the period of a couple of weeks (it was literally a different interview every weekend). Very soon, I gleaned some tips about college interviews, and Im going to share some of them here. But first off, a general note about the MIT interview: MIT didnt design its interview to quiz you and reveal the shortcomings in your character. The interview (and this is still true across many other colleges) is quite often a way to help you know more about the school, for the school to know more about you as a person, and for you to address particular areas that you might not have had the chance to flesh out in greater detail on the application (how can you convey a lifetime passion of mountain hiking in a blank? how can you capture the brilliance of a sunrise at the summit in fifty words?). This being said, the first thing you should know about the interview is that 0. Do It! If youre offered an interview, TAKE IT! You might have heard a lot about the difference in admission rates between those that accepted an interview and those that declined an interview, but thats not the only reason why you should accept an interview. The interview is a great way for you to add another dimension to your application and also chat with an ex-MIT student about his/her experience there. Theres no way to fail (see point 7), and you dont lose anything. Why not? Pick up the phone and call! 1. It is Not a Test. When you finally meet up with your EC, dont regard him or her as a foe. The MIT interview is a mutually beneficial relationship, as it both provides you with additional information about life at the Institute and it also helps the adcoms to know what youre like in real life. Come on, you are more than just a conglomerate of standardized test scores and a 500-word essay. I know you are. Therefore, dont walk into the interview thinking that youre going to get an oral quiz over what you learned in high school physics just be natural and be prepared to talk about.well, quite simply, you. 2. Be Prepared. You shouldnt be stressed out about the interview, but you should do some preparation work beforehand. Some good topics/questions that will help guide your thinking: -Be able to introduce yourself and provide a brief biographical sketch (e.g. name, family, school, interests/hobbies) in one minute. (youll start the interview off on a good note and feel more confident) -What activities did you do in high school? Why did you do them? (I tend to limit my response to no more than 3 activities in an interview you want to hit your main passions, not provide a laundry list of your accomplishments. Remember, depth and quality over sheer quantity). -What activities do you do outside of school? Why do you do them? -Why do you want to come to MIT? What is it about MIT that attracts you? (do some general research beforehand. You dont want to start talking about the Michigan Institute of Technology, for example) 3. Be Inquisitive. Remember, the interview is not a one-way interrogation its a two-way conversation. Ask your interviewer about what MIT was like when he/she was a student there. Why did he/she choose MIT over all of the other schools that he/she applied to? (Ive gotten some pretty interesting responses from this) What was his/her favorite thing about MIT? (chances are, he/she will say, theres wayyyy too many) Hold off on asking your interviewer questions though, until almost the end of your interview satisfy your interviewers curiosity about you first. :) 4. Be Sincere. When you walk into your interview, dont think that you have to be a typical MIT applicant. Dont feel like you need to harp on your mathematical, scientific, and technological achievements when your interests really lie in another area. When asked about your favorite classes, you dont have to say physics if it really isnt! At the same time, if your interests DO lie in the scientific field, dont exaggerate your passion either. If you did research in high school, dont feel compelled to provide your EC with a 40-minute lecture on all the finer points of your research (Ive found that a shorter 3-minute abstract works much better unless your EC is genuinely interested in the subject.) Be sincere about your desires remember, your EC is also human, and its easy to tell true enthusiasm from feigned interest couldnt you? 5. Be Punctual. Schedule your interview on time (RD: before December 1st!). Show up on time. It sounds easy, but I actually missed the December 1 deadline by two weeks (I thought I wasnt going to make it into MIT because Ive missed the interview deadline) dont let that be you. Also, I tend to show up for my interview around 15 minutes early. You can take a seat, scope out the location, and calm your nerves before your interviewer arrives. It all works out (and also saves you some of the grief of trying to locate exactly WHO your interviewer is in a crowded McDonalds when youre already running late). 6. Be Polite. Be nice to your EC. Theyre doing this because they love MIT, and want to help a new generation of students to get in. When you email, use proper grammar and etiquette. When you meet your interviewer in person, greet him/her and shake his/her hand firmly (if appropriate). Throughout the interview, speak in a manner that is easy to understand, and bring whatever material is appropriate (in your opinion) to help your EC understand your point (if applicable). For example, I worked on my high school yearbook for 3 years, eventually becoming editor-in-chief during my senior year. I brought a physical copy of my junior yearbook to show my interviewer some the favorite pages I made. After the interview, be sure to follow up. Email/call/write a thank you note to your interviewer let your EC know that you appreciated their time in coming out and speaking with you. When you receive your decision (regardless of acceptance or denial), let your EC know and thank them again. I actually had dinner with my EC twice after receiving my decision it can be a two-way relationship if you want. 7. You Cant Fail! You might walk out of your interview and say to yourself Man, that was a disastrous meeting. Perhaps you had a bad day, perhaps your EC had a bad day but dont let it get to you that you failed your interview. There is no way to do that. You are not being graded, and your decision doesnt hinge on the interview. Out of my eight interviews, I had a truly disastrous interview none of what I said connected with my interviewer, and (I think) my interviewer thought I was a hopelessly conceited student. However, I still ended up getting into the college in the end (even when I thought all hope was lost). In some occasions, you might just not connect with your interviewer and if that happens, dont worry too much about it. Dont give up on the application or be scared to schedule an interview because of this (see point 0). Anyhow, some interesting tidbits from my interviews: 2. I had the MIT interview on my birthday. 3. One of the interviews was a phone interview, and I could hardly hear what the other guy was saying for an entire hour. 5. I had three interviews in McDonalds. 7. For one of my interviews, the interviewer actually said, If you want to do science, dont even bother coming here. Go to MIT instead! and proceeded to market MIT over his own college. 11. For one of my interviews, we didnt talk about college at all. We discussed the US Foreign Policy to SE Asia instead (you might get a really quirky interviewer and this could happen). 13. The disastrous interview that I told you about on the top? The interviewer told me that I was one of the most mediocre applicants that he has seen and urged me to immediately seek out safety schools. 17. I discovered that one of my interviewers was actually part of my extended family who Ive never met (this was AFTER the interview, not during). 19. My favorite interview question #1: Interviewer: What are your strengths? (a very common interview question, by the way) Me: Blah blah blah [immediately after my response] Interviewer: Thats great, but what are your weaknesses? 23. My favorite interview question #2: What animal best portrays your personality? 29. My favorite interview question #3: What kind of person do the people around you see you as, in your opinion? What kind of person do you try to be? 31. Most random interview moment: [at McDonalds, at the end of the interview] Interviewer: [points at his French Fries] Do you know what kind of potatoes these are made from? Me: UhRusset Potatoes? (Ive read about them on fast food fliers) Interviewer: Wow, Im impressed! In short, you never know whats going to happen. But relax, and youll do just fine. If any of the EA applicants want to chime in with their own interview experiences, its most welcome! :)