I totally, utterly, and completely bombed a job interview once. I talked too much; I know this because the interviewer told me so. He said I didn’t have the direct experience they were looking for. My sense of humor was so far removed from his, it could have been in a different room. He even asked me what kind of music I liked. When answering the generic and usually-safe “anything but country”, he scowled and informed me that was his favorite. He told me the next time I get an interview (never a good sign) to stop answering questions I wasn’t asked. And then he joked that I was clearly wearing the only jacket-and-tie I owned.
At the end of the interview I thanked the gentleman, shook his hand (which I’m sure I did wrong too), and left knowing I didn’t get the job.
Only I did.
On this particular occasion, I must have had fortuitous angels on my side because to my surprise and delight, the next week I was sitting at my new desk filling out I-9’s and W-4’s. So how did I get the job? I have to assume that despite all obstacles, the quality of my work, my references, my résumé, my samples, my fit for the position, or any combination of these, earned me the position. Maybe I reminded him of himself at my age. Or maybe he just had a feeling. Gut can be so underrated.
Interviewing isn’t easy. It’s a test of many, many abilities, some of which you will have talent in, some of which you will not. Quick thinking, conversation skills, memory recall, situational adaptation, cliché avoidance, bargaining and negotiation, composure under pressure, job knowledge, preparation, and possibly AP physics. And getting someone to like you. That may even come with your first impression. There’s always a chance that thirty seconds after you walk in the room, your interviewer may have already made up his or her mind. For better or worse, there’s a whole lot of luck involved too.
So what is the moral to my story? Never underestimate the power of the interview. On a good day, you’ll read through a 100 job postings. Of those 100 postings, maybe you’ll apply to one job. Out of 100 jobs you apply to, maybe you’ll get one interview request. And of 100 interviews, maybe you get one job offer. That’s probably an exaggeration, but the at the core is the truth: jobs are hard to get (unless you’re in one of those magic fields like health care or computer programming or non-incumbent Congressional candidate).
In the end, no matter how much you prepare, no matter how excellent your answers are,
Because, in the end, isn’t that life in a microcosm? Prepare as best you can to walk out the door and face the world, adjust to challenges as they come at you, and do the best you can. And sometimes, on those worst of days, when you feel you’ve tried your best but failed nonetheless, someone will point at you and say ‘That’s my guy’.
Even if he doesn’t like country music.
Michael Hochman
LaidOffLife@yahoo.com ◙ Laid-Off Life on Twitter ◙ Laid-Off Life on Facebook

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." - Drew Carey
You have said pretty much everything that my career counselors have told me. Have I had success? No. Why?
ReplyDeleteReason #1 - I was told by an interviewer that I dressed "too well" and "didn't look like I needed the job".
Reason #2 - Another interiviewer told me I was "too qualified for the position".
I know - I sound bitter. Probably because I see teachers who can't spell getting jobs teaching children.
Like I have said time and time again, I am no expert. My columns are based strictly on personal experience. But nice to hear I'm not alone out there.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. It's also about people's connections with in the company.
ReplyDeleteI use to act and one time i didn't get the part because the director said I looked like his ex wife...I was 15....HAHAHA