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…

June 21, 2005 at 3:10 AM

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