Actually, it *is* about you
When I moved back to Wisconsin from Michigan, I took quite a few tech temp jobs from an employment agency, mostly helping government departments with their websites.
I got pretty much every job they put me up for.
Unlike when I was a reporter, where I constantly thought of myself as a professional fraud, I was quite confident in my abilities on the web.
The work, and the pay, were decent.
I don’t even remember a lot of those jobs. But one interview in particular is burned into my memory.
I was ushered into a conference room in an office that might sub in for a “Severance” set today. Bland grey cubicles and flickering fluorescent lights.
They sat me around a giant table with about eight staff people, all with their pre-programmed state-approved questions at the ready.
I was able to answer everything pretty well. But after the entire process, I still didn’t have a clear idea what the job actually entailed. The job description and even this whole interview process didn’t explain what the work would actually be. So when the “do you have any questions” portion arrived, I had an important one.
“What exactly does the day-to-day work of this job look like?” I said.
The giant ruddy-faced man at the head of the table, the boss of the position, jumped right in and said gruffly:
”The job is whatever I say it is.”
I was never so glad to be turned down for a job in my life.
The truth is that they ran out of money in the budget and didn’t hire anyone for the position. But it was a time in my life that I thought I had to take anything that was offered to me. So I would have taken this. But thank god I didn’t have to.
I spend a lot of time around here hammering on the concept that “it’s not about you” — the employer doesn’t care about your goals, or your issues. They just want to solve a problem.
That’s an important idea.
But what’s equally crucial is you understanding your own worth.
Don’t just accept a job because it’s offered to you. A job that doesn’t fit you isn’t worth it. Make sure that you don’t forget yourself in this process. We’re talking about years of your life here. Does the job suit you? Does it help you? Do you understand exactly what you’re getting into?
If the answer to any of those questions is no, watch out.
In an interview, remember: you’re interviewing them, too.
With “The Office” and “Office Space” and “Severance” under our belts, you would think we had learned that lesson. That we matter. But it can get buried under a mountain of stress and anxiety.
I know.
Just don’t forget: you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!
See you next week.