I don’t remember any of my early job interviews. I do remember the first call from Liberty. My response was “who are you, and why are you calling me?” Probably not the best first impression.
I hadn’t applied for the job – someone else put my name in – and I wasn’t expecting the call. Fortunately, it didn’t disrupt my chances, and I spent 16 years there after that rocky first impression.
Since then, I remember all the interviews I’ve had. Screening calls with recruiters. More in-depth discussions with hiring managers. Critical questions from stakeholders or customers.
In my (very) recent experience interviewing, I have had to remind myself of some universal truths. Ones I share with others who are also interviewing. They help ground me, and them, during what can be a tumultuous experience.
1. Always be yourself
While this should be a given, unfortunately it is not. So I’m going to say it loud. Louder for those in the back.
We all have the ability to adjust to the situation at hand. While that can be a good thing, and a survival tool in many situations, we don’t want to start there.
If we are going into interviews as anything but ourselves, we are setting ourselves – and the company – up for potential failure.
Yes, we may need a paycheck. We may have folks dependent on us. There may be very real reasons why we want a job. But one where we are coming across as something we are not? That is not something we can maintain. Not indefinitely. And not without cost.
If they don’t want us, we don’t want them. If we have to contort to get in, we’ll have to keep doing that to stay. While it may pay the bills in the short-term, the long-term stress and health impacts of that contortion aren’t worth it.
And ultimately will cost us more.
2. Believe what you see and hear
Depending on our situation, we may be willing to overlook red flags during the interview process. Don’t. Believe what people show you about themselves. The first time.
During interviews, both sides of the table tend to be on their best behaviors. If we see or hear something suspect, it’s likely worse in practice.
When something does come up, request to speak with others in the organization that aren’t in the hiring process. If you know people in the organization, even better. This can help balance whatever signals may have been received during the interview.
During interviews with a company I was considering, a hiring manager revealed herself to struggle with timely communication. I caught on quick and realized it could be a challenge for me as an employee.
As the process proceeded, I began adjusting my communications approach as I would if she were my manager. This gave me better insight to potential interactions and confidence that I could work for her.
Not every red flag is a reason to move on. It is information to consider if an offer is made and whether it’s something that can be accepted or managed.
3. There’s no wrong decision
Regardless of how interviews go, I’ve found there’s no wrong decision. There are only so many possible outcomes when we interview.
A – We suspect some strange things, take the job, and they turn out to be true. Result: we learn.
B – We suspect some strange things, take the job, and they aren’t true. Result: we learn and grow.
C – We think things are going to be amazing. We take the job. They are amazing. Result: We grow.
D – We think things are going to be amazing. We take the job. They suck. Result: We learn.
E – We either aren’t offered or don’t take the job. We end up somewhere else. Result: A-D for that company.
Give it your all
Regardless of who we are interviewing with, for whatever role, it’s worth being ourselves and giving it our all.
In the moment, I couldn’t always know how a given role would fit into my career. Looking back, I can see a beautiful tapestry, where each role prepared me for another.
The best laid plans are just that…plans. If we get too attached to them, we might miss out on something that is going to prepare us for our next big thing. Whatever that might be.
Job titles change. Responsibilities do too. Jobs that didn’t exist a year ago are now up and coming.
As we pursue our respective next steps, we can do our best to show up as who we are, believe others when they show us who they are, and remember that there’s no bad decisions. We are going to learn, grow, or both.
It’s only on the other side of those decisions that we’ll understand how each one fits into the mosaic that is our own unique and beautiful journey.
