The Real Reason Why You Sabotage Interviews and Never Get Offers
People struggle with the interview process because it makes them feel like they’re being handed the broom.
The job means you have to start at the bottom of the company totem pole. You’re asked, once again, to explain yourself. No one cares about your past accolades anymore.
How can you grow the company today?
Sell yourself to me.
It’s demeaning if you let it. I once sat in a meeting room with five interviewers, all younger than me (21–25 years old), and spent an hour answering the most comically basic interview questions. “What’s your greatest weakness?” “What do you want to do 5 years from now?” “If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I thought to myself. They literally had their laptops opened and were reading interview questions straight from Google.
Even during those moments, an interview is never beneath you. From a different perspective, I realized that these kids weren’t in charge of hiring — they were the team I was joining. Those 21–25-year-olds didn’t care about my answers. They wanted to meet someone who they could connect with, have fun with, and, I don’t know, actually be excited about joining their team.
Instead they met me, and the only expression on my face was how do I get out the fuck out of this room.
It was a cool company and I botched the interview.
Therein lies your opportunity. Hollywood actors turn down massive roles because they refuse to audition. NFL players miss out on super bowl teams because they won’t settle for anything less than being the star.
And you? What will you do?
Will you get upset when someone asks about your greatest strength and weaknesses? Will you grovel at rewriting your cover letter for the 35th time?
Or will you do your homework and present how your experience will drive the company forward.
Will you act out like everyone else, or act?