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June 21, 2005 at 3:10 AM

Another job interview today.
Once again, I

• Padded my resume with credible (I hope) puffery


• Google searched the three people who would interview me


• Google searched the organization I’d work for


• Read documents written by the interviewers
  
• Consulted extensively with the woman at the job service who found this opportunity for me


• Reread my collection of Internet articles on job interviews


• Prepared a mental list of questions for me to ask my interviewers (This is considered very important.)


• Tried to anticipate the questions that I’d be asked and prepare answers that would make me look good


• Checked the routes and schedules for public transportation so that I could arrive at least a half hour early (highly recommended)


• Tried on my one and only business suit $35 at a consignment store) to make sure it still fits


• Coaxed by temperamental printer into printing out several copies of my resume (This can take hours.)


• Tried to sell myself in spite of my humbleness


• Made snap determinations about my interviewers and tried to get them excited about me (and I’m an introvert)

Afterwards, in the war room, I assessed the whole experience. I seemed to get along with the interviewers. They laughed at my jokes. The Boss asked some tough questions, but I had answers. The woman from the job service, who had been at the interview, told me that she thought it went well. She said that I had asked some good questions and that I made it clear that I would really enjoy the work. BUT I could tell that I did not have enough experience in the task the Boss was most interested in. I revisited the results of my Internet search on thank you letters for job interviews and found the one I was looking for: the “damage control “ job interview thank you letter, which I will write and send within 24 hours of the interview, as I’m supposed to, although I don’t expect it to save me.

Then I cried. I am so tired of this. I’ve been doing this for years, and I’m tired of rejection and failure. I’m tired of trying to be brave.

Now to prepare for my next interview…