Mark Twain once said “I would never want to be part of a club that would have someone like me as a member.”
I often feel that way about jobs. In a way when a company rejects me I am relieved. I certainly am not perfect, and if they don’t think I have what it takes then I don’t need to prove myself to them.
When a company accepts me and wants to work with me I secretly wonder if they know my shortcomings and weaknesses. I don’t know everything and perhaps my ignorance will cause a problem.
Now the reality for me has been that the majority of the time a company is thrilled with my work. There are always some companies that don’t appreciate you, but with time you get better at recognizing that during the job interview.
This is not to brag but to share that sometimes you find companies who appreciate you. I had a company that I consulted for ask me to have a meeting with them to address a current problem they were faced with. I was happy to help them. It gives you a good feeling when you can solve peoples technical issues.
Now some of you might say, “But I know that I could have done the job.” That is true. Many times you can do the job. However it is often a benefit you don’t get the job, and here is why. Being part of a culture that values you is the key to wanting to work hard and not getting burnt out. If they don’t value you, that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.
I had a doctor one tell me that how people treat you says nothing about you and everything about them. I had to think about this before I realized its truth. Generous and kind people want to help others. Jerks will be jerks. Jerks don’t like kind people and kind people don’t like jerks. So if a jerk rejects you for a job and you are a kind person be happy! If you are a jerk and another jerk rejects you, well that normal and you have no problem with that.
Many times I have gone into interviews with hiring managers and I have felt their distain for me. I sometimes directly confront them. I have had hiring managers tell me that I am saying the right things, but they don’t like me. Ok then. You can’t fix stupid, you can’t heal toxic. Giving your best in an interview, doesn’t mean they will love you back or want you to have the job.
Approach interviews as the same meaning of a random encounter on the street. They mean nothing to your personal self-worth and value.