Interview for Life

Jeff is going through a special sort of hell during this job search. It's called scrutinizing every aspect of your life and tearing it apart bit by bit. Interviewing, you have to present your very best self - no room for self-doubt. You have to convey "I'm your man" without sounding arrogant or cocky. You get asked difficult questions such as "why did you leave your last job?" and "why didn't you list your former supervisor as a reference?" Never an easy thing to talk about. Even if you were laid off, there is always that air of "well, WHY?" That sense of were you good enough? The perpetual why that will never be answered. As to who you list a a reference - well, that is also fraught with peril. You might list someone you think will sing your praises only to find out they didn't sing very loud. And if you don't list your boss? Well, who doesn't think THAT is weird? It's very much like getting a divorce - two sides to the story, and no one will ever know the intricacies of your intimate relationship. So, people go with what they have - first impressions, "I heard this", and such. It's enough to make a person doubt everything about themselves. It's the ultimate sell job. And the dichotomy of it all - one the one hand you are a walking advertisement - "unemployed" "desperate for an income" "I'll do anything". On the other hand, you can't sell out. The skills and experience you've worked so hard for and are so valuable suddenly get cheapened if you accept a "lesser" position. No matter how you spin it, it's a quandry. Being too good or not good enough. Selling yourself or selling out. No wonder he said he feels like he wants to sleep for three weeks!

On a lighter note, he's racking the latest homebrew right now - Lusty Leprechaun - for St. Patrick's day! My book club will sample it tomorrow night and then we'll serve the rest at the party we're having to celebrate the wearin' o' the green. Cheers!