Inner-View

There is nothing like a good, intense, two-hour interview to really help you evaluate your worth as a human being.  It’s also an experience in self-promotion.  Not only do you have to prove you are qualified, but also prove that you have the ability to explain exactly why you are in articulate, clear pronouncements.  Experience, successes, jobs, classes, degrees, promotions, goals, aspirations, oh my. 

It’s hard to find a potential job that seems just right.  Location, pay, experience, required skills- too many factors to name.  It seems that in ”Today’s Job Market” (aren’t you sick of hearing that phrase?) you need to have started gaining experience in a particular field from infancy if you want a shot at a good career.  Even companies hiring for entry level jobs want candidates that have very specific skills and experiences to make them eligible for the position.  Many times have I seen a job that I would be perfect for, if only I spoke fluent German or knew how to disassemble a laptop with a bobby pin. 

It is both ironic and beyond frustrating that the hardest, most challenging, most stress-inducing, most rewarding job I’ve ever had is not one you can put on a resume.  For anyone that has grocery shopped with two kids under age 3, or gotten out of bed for the fifth time in the same night to feed a newborn, or tried to explain to a 2 year old that punching their mother in face will not actually get them the lollipop they are crying for, you might understand.  But it’s true.  I’ve never worked harder or been more proud of anything. 

I define myself as a mom, first and foremost.  But it was a huge confidence building exercise to spend those two hours selling myself.  To be honest, I did talk about my kids in the interview (a move that can either help or backfire, depending on the audience).  At the risk of sounding Parent’s-Magazine-cliché, being a mom makes me a better worker. 

Can you handle stress?

“Yup. Yup yup yup.”

How do you deal with multitasking?

“Give the baby a pacifier and run with the 2 year old to the potty.”    

Have you done budgeting before?

“Diapers are cheapest at BJ’s but if you are in a rush, Target sells them for almost the same. And I always have a coupon.”

Are you afraid of getting your hands dirty?

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.”

Wish me luck!