Lessons Learned From A Failed Job Interview

JOHN: How did the interview go?
PETER: I didn't get it. That's the last time I go into a job interview dressed as an astronaut.
JOHN: They have no vision.

I did not go to a job interview dressed as a spaceman, but I may as well have. I recently had an interview for a very competitive internship. I was proactive in my approach -- had in been in touch with them for the last two months -- and had the backing of a reference close to them. The interview seemed a formality; I was the only candidate they were slated to interview.

Even though the cards seemed stacked in my favor, that never means they actually are. In my assumption that I already had the job, I made a grave mistake: The interview went really well until an employee asked, "So are you familiar with what we do here?"

I wasn't. In all of my excitement, I did very little research. As a journalist, I schlepped Rule Numero Uno.

My arrogance got in my way and I received an appreciated email detailing where I went wrong in the interview (though it doesn't mention my incessant "Umm"s.) I spent a few subsequent hours beating myself up, but eventually came around to another reason I was caught off guard.

As a writer perspective, little of the work I do involves anyone else, so I don't blame myself for not being able to articulate the "teamwork" portion on a professional scale. At a human perspective, however, I should've made the following list weeks ago. As a reminder to myself, I compiled this list of generic questions one will most likely hear at a job interview. It's my goal to have answers to all of these next time around. Not answers to memorize, but at least a readily available guideline.

• What are your personal strengths and weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself in five, ten years?
• How might your friends describe you as a person, not as an employee?
• What are you looking for in an internship? In what circumstance would this experience be successful to you?
• Did you enjoy attending WSU for journalism?
  
• Tell me about your writing process. How do you approach a story?
  
• Tell me about a particular obstacle you faced as a journalist and how you confronted it.
• Tell me about a time you disappointed yourself and what you learned, would do differently?
• Is there a time that you had improved upon a process that had been in place for some time?
• When working in a team, how do you handle someone who is not pulling their weight?
• What leadership qualities might you bring to a team environment? Examples?
• AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Do you have any questions for us? (Always have questions prepared. Keep dialogue moving. You'd assume that "No" looks like it means you did your homework and know everything, but you get nothing but awkward dead air at the end.)
  

Of course, if anyone has suggestions of what else to expect in an interview, I'm very open to it. In the meantime, I think I will try the pirate outfit next time...