Lessons Learned From a Failed Job Interview
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 9:21AM
The latest US labor statistics show that nearly 14,000,000 Americans are currently unemployed and looking for jobs. If we assume that 25% are actively looking for jobs, and doing roughly 1.5 interviews per week, that means that there are roughly 5,250,000 interviews in any given week.
Have you ever had an interview that didn't go quite as you expected?
This past Wednesday, I had an interview that felt doomed from the start. Like a lone Chihuahua pitted against an army of German Shepherds; I didn't do as well as I had hoped.
But even with the sadness and disappointment that comes from such a massive lack of performance, I still had a great time and enjoyed the overall trip. And I even learned a few lessons along the way.
How Did it Start
I was contacted by a company in regards to a very Javascript-heavy position. I have only been working with Javascript for about 5 months and the work has been mostly high-level use of a Javascript framework.
I informed the recruiter of this, but he gave me the opportunity to speak with one of his engineers to evaluate my performance. Apparently, I did a decent enough job that the recruiter contacted me again to setup an in-person interview; which meant a trip out to their headquarters in California.
I was a bit hesitant since I felt that the position wasn't in-line with my current focus, but he assured me that evaluating my abilities was in their best interests and that they would be happy to fly me out for the interview. Due to some projects at my current job, we scheduled the trip for a few weeks out and I began making preparations.
Unfortunately, those preparations did not include doing any research into the fundamentals of Javascript; an area in which I am sorely lacking. This was to be my downfall.
Lesson Learned: Make preparations for the position you are being offered.
What Went Wrong
During the few weeks before my interview, I concentrated heavily on my current job to ensure that everything would be ready for the multiple-product launch in the middle of August. I didn't have time to think, much less research anything outside of the scope of my current projects.
But the projects finished, and I found myself with something I didn't realize how much I had missed: time.
It was at this point that I should have begun preparing for the interview. Learning about the company, researching Javascript fundamentals, and strengthening my understanding all around so that I could blow the interviewers away with my "mad skilz".
But I didn't.
Instead, I spent time with my wife, played a bunch of video games, hung out with friends and began the work necessary to start my own business. All things that distracted me from what should have been my goal of getting the job.
Lesson Learned: You have to actually work towards your goal! Go figure…
Looking Back
But as I reflect back on the whole experience, I have to be honest with myself. I was never truly excited about working for the company in the capacity that they were evaluating.
I didn't really want the job, and that apparently showed through due to my lack of preparations and my lack of excitement. I should have done better to meet their expectations.
Lesson Learned: It's not worth it for anybody if you aren't truly excited about the opportunity.
A Life Worth Living
So where do I go from here?
Well, unlike the multitude of unfortunate Americans in the statistic above, I am still blessed with a job that I enjoy and co-workers that drive me to success. So I don't think I'm going anywhere anytime soon.
Regardless, I want to live a life worth living. What exactly does this mean?
It means that I want to experience new things and share my findings with the world. It means that I want to make more time for the things in life that are most important to me such as my family, my friends and my church. It means living an extraordinary life, and helping others to do the same.
I'm not quite sure what the future holds, but I know what I want to accomplish, and it's time I drive myself to make that happen.
Lesson Learned: Set your goals, and only do things that help you accomplish them; everything else is a distraction.
Take Action Now
Remember, if you're not happy with your life, it's up to you to shift your goals, shift your mindset and shift your life.
I would highly recommend reading Shift: How to Reinvent Your Business, Your Career, and Your Personal Brand by Peter Arnell and subscribing to (and browsing the archives of) the following blogs. They have all helped me on my journey to live a life worth living.
- NerdFitness - Level Up Your Life Each and Every Day
- Blog of Impossible Things - The Impossible is Always Possible
- Heroic Destiny - The Intentional Pursuit of Your Best Life
- Three New Leaves (3NL) - Simplify. Change. Smile.
How can I help you live an extraordinary life? Let me know in the comments below, or shoot me a message and start the most important conversation of your life.
Reader Comments (4)
There is no such thing as a "Failed Interview". An interview is always a two way thing. While you are being interviewed you are also evaluating the interviewer and in a large way yourself. You, as much as the interviewer decide if you are right for a job. This interview did not fail. It did exactly what it was supposed to do. Interviews are not to get a job. They are decision making tools. Both you and the possible future employer are making a decision. If there is such a thing as a failed interview it is when a wrong decision is made. i.e. A job is offered and accepted when it is not going to work out well for either of you. If I read your blog correctly, this would this would have been the case had you taken a job there.
Yes, it is good to prepare and perhaps you should have spent some time with that. However your choices show your priorities. You showed integrity in accomplishing the tasks you had with your current employer and you placed wife and friends high on your list of things that have value to you. These are qualities that will make you happy and will make your family happy too. Work now on developing that balance between ambition and family. It is painfully difficult to do so later, after bad habits have been established. I know this as a fact. Keep God and Family always first and all of the rest will fall into place. I know this as a fact too!
I agree with a lot of the sentiments there. For people like you whose scope of ability is perhaps broader than that of very strong interest, learning about what you're very good at, but only have mediocre emotional connection with, can be pretty valuable in shaping and focusing a career. And the luxury of being able to test waters still holding down a steady gig can be pretty sweet.
I also echo the idea that no interview you look back on with that much scrutiny will prove to be a total loss in the future.
Thanks for the comments guys! I really value your feedback (as I'm sure you already know).
@Dad - You're absolutely right; the title I picked is not really in-line with what I feel. I definitely don't see it as a failed interview (it mostly sounded good for the title), I see it as a huge learning experience. For the longest time, I thought I knew what I wanted when it came to my career, when in reality, I'm just beginning to understand the things that I care about.
I like my freedom: freedom to create, freedom to travel, freedom to work from home (or anywhere else) and spend time with my family. I've seen a few jobs recently that sound pretty cool, but when I realize that they require you to work at their office, I realize that's not the career path I want to take. I guess I'm a bit more of a nomad (at heart) than I ever thought.
@Daniel - First off, thanks for reading my post AND commenting! I totally didn't expect that and it made my day :-)
Secondly, I definitely know that I am blessed to be able to tell my boss that I'm taking a few days off to go for an interview and have him encourage me to go, while also saying that he doesn't want me to leave. It's an amazing place that I work, and I am truly grateful.
Thirdly, I definitely don't see it as a loss. I learned SOOO much about myself over the last few weeks, it's been crazy good. I know what I want to focus on, and what I don't. God really opened my eyes with this opportunity.
Again, thanks for y'alls' comments!
Your job is only one fragment of your life. Arguably, it is the one you have the least control over, since you really do need one. (Food and housing are kinda handy.) The time you spend focusing on relationships (God, wife, family, friends, coworkers) is more valuable than the time you are actually paid for.
And as for the interview, I'm not sure an interview you have to study for is the job you want. Maybe a refresher or something if its a technology you haven't used in a while, but in general you want a job that fits you, not one that you have to fit yourself into.
Besides, if you do get a job somewhere else, I hope its one that you can telecommute to. :)