I’m writing this the morning of a job interview. And I am nervous.
The last time I had a job interview was about 5 years ago. I truly believed this would be my last one. I almost want to laugh at myself, as I was still in my twenties at that point in time. But I also still have that determination to never have to bother with them again. But this is all about perspective. Let me explain that more thoroughly.
I want to be a published author in this lifetime. After all, this lifetime is the only chance I get to be published even once. But I have plans for multiple books. But how do I become published? I have chosen not to go the self-publishing route. That involves Amazon and E-Books. I will never work for or with Amazon as long as I can help it. But the “traditional” route involves hiring an agent, which increases the likelihood of becoming published and more successful. Which, depending on how you look at it, are two interviews right there. But with the agent, both of you are interviewing each other to see if this would be a good fit.
At my former job (Lens Rentals), I specialized in NDI-PTZ cameras, especially one particular brand: BirdDog. As my employment with Lens Rentals came to a close, I applied for a management position for BirdDog. This would leave me state-side but would have me working with them in a much broader sense than just a video technician. And I am putting up with an interview today because I believe I have an expertise that BirdDog may mutually benefit. So we’ll see how this trans-continental, multi-time zone, international interview will work out.
Am I nervous? Yes. But not in the same way that I was five years ago. Things have changed dramatically since then. Different things are on the line. Pressure and anxiety comes from new places. Do I feel like I do a good job at interviews? I have no idea. I never know. Each interview is different. And thankfully more transparent and less one-sided like they used to feel. Still, it feels an awful lot like cramming for exams.
Job interviews don’t feel like they should be forced on anyone with extreme (or even General) Anxiety. They feel like a punishment in-the-making. On the flip-side of that perspective, they come with unexpected opportunities that you or I may not have foreseen. Maybe you’re not a good fit for the job interviewed for, but in fact another position is waiting for your qualifications. And this dawned on the interviewee only in the last seconds of the meeting. Maybe…
Interviews are awful on the nerves, but have great possibilities. I give the Job Interview three out of five stars.