Adventures in Interviewing

I'm pretty sure most people get nervous about being interviewed for a potential job. It's easy to over-think your answers and seem like you're acting. Getting an unexpected question seems to erase your memory and you find yourself fumbling for an answer of any kind. In my experience interviewing others, I always do what I can to try to put them at ease.

My first job interview during this job search adventure went reasonably well.  I felt like I had prepared for the usual questions for the type of job and had good stories to draw from. There were a few questions that I later wished I had answered better, so writing the post-interview thank you letters allowed me to clarify my answers. Once I delivered the letters in person, I was pretty hopeful that I would make it to the final interview round. Seeing the rejection email show up sent me into a bit of shock and I gave into crying again.

Part of what pulled me out of the job rejection blues was that I already had another job interview lined up. A friend had told me about this particular opening and it would have me working more closely with people in need. That's the kind of thing I'm passionate about, so I was excited by the time I arrived for the interview. While waiting, I was able to look over the interview questions, but I already found myself struggling to think of answers. Once in the interview, more of my brain seemed to freeze. I walked out of there wondering what had happened. I wasn't my usual self at all. More than a week has gone by and I haven't heard back. I'm pretty sure I blew that opportunity.

One of my blogging friends was kind enough to try to cheer me up by sharing an interview disaster story of her own. She even dedicated her blog post to me (I'm so honored!). It made me laugh and put me at ease about my own missteps.

This past Thursday, I had an interview for a great position and I was determined not to mess it up. Fortunately, the interviewer had a more conversational approach and she was the only interviewer. (The previous ones had been panels of three or four people.) The position was with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, a cause I am passionate about because of my mom's struggles with MS. The real me was there this time and my brain was fully functional - yippee!  I walked out of that interview with a smile on my face and a skip in my step (literally). In my excitement, I made sure to get my thank you letter written and in the mail by the time I went to bed. Delivering in person would have been better, but transportation issues prevented it. Now it's time to wait for an answer...