✿ Jobhunting
As my temp job is drawing to an end (april 1st), I’ve started looking for a new position somewhere. I’m not too picky, although I do have some preferences. I like working for my current employer, which is the local government for my city (Leiden), so obviously I’m keeping track of any internal openings that are being posted on the intranet. I am however a hired temp worker, so I may not be considered before actual employees of the city. It’s never bad to have an edge and know about positions that are coming available though, so I apply to them anyway in case there aren’t any internal applicants that are suitable.
This past tuesday, I had an interview planned with some people in a different department. I will tell you right now, I messed up completely… on all accounts. First I got lost on my way there, causing me to be already ten minutes late at my destination. Strike one.
I announced myself at the desk cleric anyway and waited. When finally the HR person came to pick me up, he told me I was actually in the wrong building. Strike two was in place.
We walked to the correct building, just across the street (I had no idea this department had more than one building in that street… zomg!!) as I explained why I had been late to begin with. I apologized for that and for being in the wrong building and joked that I was starting with a two to one disadvantage already, to which he politely snickered a bit.
By the time we sat down with coffee and the other two people conducting the interview, I was already so stressed out that I couldn’t collect my thoughts long enough to actually ‘sell’ myself to them in an eloquent and sensible way. I stuttered my way through the interview, drew blanks on more than one question and wished for sudden death during the whole ordeal. I felt strike three, four, five and six, but by the time strike seven hit, I was already numb.
When the interview had finished and as I walked out the door, I started laughing. I know I can do the job, I also know I’m probably good at it, but due to the worst presentation I had ever given of myself, I completely failed to land the job. I still am dumbfounded about how miserably I failed, but it’s too funny not to share it here.
Next!
Illustration by Randy Glasbergen
