Years ago, when I was on my way to an interview, I learned a lesson that I will never forget.
As children, we are taught to be polite, use manners, and of course, implement the golden rule, “if you don’t have anything nice to say/do, don’t say/do it at all.” I’d like you to keep my story in mind, especially when you forget the childhood rules you learned so many years ago, because it might save you a job … you can thank me later.
As I was driving down to Albany, I continually went over answers for tricky interview questions. I thought about my past experiences, what I found to be rewarding, how I would answer “what’s your biggest weakness,” or, “if you could be an animal, what would you be and why?” I had reviewed books, consulted the website of the company I was interviewing at, double checked my resume, I was in a brand new suit, light perfume, light make up, hair pulled back … I was ready to go.
Before I knew it, I was almost to the location of the interview. Since I didn’t travel to Albany much, and was trying to follow directions while driving, I started to feel a little lost. Pulling into the complex, I felt extremely overwhelmed; there was traffic everywhere, a million different buildings that looked identical to the one described to me, stared back at me while I tried to navigate around the complex. I must have driven around for 15 minutes before I found the building. (Always give yourself plenty of time to find the location of the interview- being late is not an option.) Now I had to find a parking spot … another challenge.
Perfect! It only took a few minutes for someone to pull out of the spot to my right, and I could get into the office with plenty of time to spare. As I turned my wheel to the right, a speeding car cut me off and drove right into the spot. I literally could not believe this person. I was so frustrated, I almost beeped my horn and said some choice words to the guy, though something told me to hold my tongue. I put the car in reverse, didn’t stare at the annoying gentleman who took my spot, and drove on to find another one.
As the clock was quickly ticking, I again started to panic. I could not be late for this interview! Finally, a few football fields away, I found a parking spot. I quickly switched into my heels, freshened up, and ran to the building. Another five minutes went by until I found the right entrance, where finally, I found the area I was supposed to be.
A lovely assistant escorted me into the room, where I would wait for Quinn, Managing Director, to see me. Again, mentally preparing for my interview, I was feeling confident and ready to present myself and my qualifications, without flaw. Reaching into my bag for a quick sip of water, I heard the door open. I turned to see, and immediately recognized him … the man that stole my parking spot.
Of course he pretended like he didn’t recognize me, and before I knew it, the interview was over.
Do yourself a favor, and learn from this story. I could’ve easily shown my frustration when my parking spot was stolen, but thank goodness, I didn’t; my embarrassment for the gentleman was a far better victory than what I would have felt if the roles were reversed. Additionally, I had prepared and allotted for circumstances out of my control, and though lots of annoying things happened, which impeded on my time, I still had time to spare, because I planned ahead.
Key Takeaways:
- Plan ahead for things out of your control
- Make sure you have excellent directions to the interview location
- Do your research prior
- Prepare for tricky questions, and the like, don’t be caught off guard by questions like, “what animal would you be and why.”
- And most importantly: Always treat people well, even in situations like mine
Erin McCarthy
Staffing Coordinator – Non Profit & Office Support
