Job interview 2

Sam currently runs his own company selling used office furni­ture online. He's tired of running his own business and wants to get a job with a big company.

Nick: I see from your resume that you're running your own show

as the owner ofOldOfficeChair.com.

Sam: That's right. I've carved out a niche selling used office chairs over the Internet.

Nick: That sounds like a great business.

Sam: I was making money hand over fist after the dot-corn bust. Companies were going belly up every day, and I snapped up all their chairs for a song. But these days it's becoming harder and harder to find used chairs.

Nick: Wouldn't you rather continue working for yourself?

Sam: No, I'm tired of working for myself.

Nick: I can see the writing on the wall: you'll jump ship when you think up another good business idea.

Sam: No, I won't. I'd always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I got that out of my system. I realize now that it's not all it's cracked up to be.

Nick: It certainly isn't. You work really hard and you're just as likely to strike out as you are to strike it rich.

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Sam: Tell me about it! My best friend invested all his money in starting a company. He ended up losing his shirt!

Nick: Right, we all know people like that...One final point about the position. As you know, this is a large corporation. Are you sure you wouldn't be happier at a start-up?

Sam: Start-ups are exciting, but at this point in my life, I'm look­ing for stability over excitement. I've got four kids at home, and they like to eat!

Nick: I hear what you're saying. We could use somebody around here who thinks like an entrepreneur. If you're someone who can take the ball and run with it, you'd be a great addition.

Idioms & expressions - lesson 29

(to) run one's own show

to run one's own business; to have control over an entire busi­ness or a part of a business

example: Anne can't imagine working for somebody else. She loves running her own show as CEO of Anne Global, Inc.

(to) carve out a niche

to start a specialty business

example: Teresa carved out a niche selling DVDs on eBay.

note: A "niche" is the market segment served by a particular product, service, or product line.

(to) make money hand over fist

to make a lot of money; to make a lot of money fast

example: AstraZeneca made money hand over fist with the drug Prilosec. It was a huge success.

(to) go belly up

to go bankrupt

example: Shortly after Borders bookstore opened downtown, the small bookshop went belly up.

(to) snap up

to buy for a very good price; to buy a large supply of something, usually because it's on sale or in short supply

example: While in Vietnam, Monica snapped up dozens of inexpensive, beautiful silk scarves to sell at her Manhattan clothing boutique.

for a song

cheaply, inexpensively

example: Monica was able to buy jewelry and clothing in Hanoi for a song.

(to) see the writing on the wall

to know what's coming; to see what's going to happen in the future

example: The company has canceled this year's holiday party. I can see the writing on the wall: soon, they'll be announcing lay-offs.

note: You will also see the variation: handwriting on the wall.

start-up

a small business, usually one that's been operating five years or less (and often in the technology industry)

example: Julie took a chance by leaving her secure job at IBM to join a risky start-up.

(to) jump ship

to quit a job; to leave a job suddenly

example: When the accounting scandal broke, several financial managers at the energy company jumped ship immediately.

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(to) get something out of one's system

to no longer feel the need to do something; to experience something to one's satisfaction

example: Tom had always wanted to be a lawyer, but after his summer internship at a law firm, he got that out of his system.

not all it's cracked up to be

not as great as people think; not as great as its reputation

example: Working for a big public relations firm is not all it's cracked up to be. The pay isn't great and the hours are long.

(to) strike out

to fail

example: I'm sorry to hear that you struck out on the job interview. I'm sure something else will come along soon.

(to) strike it rich

to attain sudden financial success; to get rich quickly

example: Victor struck it rich when Microsoft bought out his small software company.

Tell me about it!