An Honest Job Interview

How I wish I could have answered my last job interview

Job interviews are such strange interactions. You’re supposed to be professional and friendly, serious and approachable. You have to be honest but you can’t dare to be too honest or you’re definitively not going to get the job. The stakes are high and you need to really not mess this up. Here are some of the questions I was asked in my most recent job interview and how I wish I could have answered them.

Why did you apply for this job?

How I answered: I admire the work of your company, I’ve worked with the products you’re selling, I really enjoyed using them, and I want to be part of the team.

How I answered in my head: Well, I need a job and this seemed like something I could actually do.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

How I answered: I hope to be better at my job and become the professional I strive to be.

How I answered in my head: I honestly have no idea. I don’t actually own a crystal ball.

How would you handle an extremely stressful situation?

How I answered: I would stay calm, write everything I have to do, prioritize, and get it done.

How I answered in my head: Probably not well. This is why I applied to a job whose description made it seem free of extremely stressful situations. Honestly, if this in an interview to be a cardiothoracic surgeon I’m in the wrong interview.

How would you defuse conflict between other people?

How I answered: I would try to get them to sit down, talk about it, and come to an agreement.

How I answered in my head: Honestly if other people are fighting amongst themself it’s really none of my business. Why would I get involved? Are they adults in this scenario? They can figure it out by themselves.

What’s the most creative thing you’re ever done?

How I answered: When I was in Brazil, I was involved in a project to sterilize dogs and cats in a van that worked as a surgical room.

How I answered in my head: I started writing a ghotic short story (something I never thought I would…

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