JOB INTERVIEW! That’s right folks, I had an interview today. In fact it is the first of three interviews that I currently have scheduled. Like an actor views a call back as almost as good as getting the part, the interview is almost as good as getting the job! In this world, if they pull you to the short list of folks to meet – that is a good feeling! I am excited I have two more interviews over the next couple of weeks! All three of my interviews are still in the field of higher education., but each in a different area or focus. We have decided that while I am drawing unemployment pay, that I will try to get interviews in the field that I am most recently experienced in. As I near the end of that paycheck time – I will begin to explore other options.
The interview went well – I actually knew 3 of the 4 folks on the team. The world of Kansas higher ed is not all that huge! The funny part is the education “way”of interviewing. This business background person always finds it humorous to watch a group of professional adults play round robin with pre-scripted interview questions. And seriously – there is a market out there for the “creative interview questions” to be written. Tell us of a time when you…. how would you describe your …. what about this job attracted you to apply….There have to be creative minds out there that can think up something better than the same 15 questions! And truthfully, the questions have probably already been created, and the education HR departments are just not looking to change their process. Who is surprised by that – ok, don’t all of you raise your hands at once!
Interviews can be pretty stressful for folks. Thankfully, I am not one of them. For some reason, it just doesn’t bother me to go through this process. In part, I think it is because I am pretty sure I know who I am – what my strengths are, where my challenges lie, what I am comfortable doing and how I communicate those things. Are all “my” things what this particular job want? Who knows?!? But this much I do know – if I am offered the job, they have had the opportunity to know exactly who I am and not a person created to look fabulous in an interview. Yes, of course, there are a number of things that one should do “correctly” in an interview. By all means be confident, make eye contact, take your time to give thoughtful answers and attempt to connect with each member of the team. But I don’t recommend creating a “made up person” in order to get a job. The key in my mind is to just be your best self- and be able to communicate that best self to others. This is not an issue of ego, it is an issue of self awareness. Be confident in who you are and simply share that with those who sit on the other side of the table.
So now we wait – and really that is ok with me. I have so many other things to do that going back to work right now is just not on my agenda – lol! Now… back to my website, I have a new “current projects” to share and I can’t get it to show up on the right page……