It was my first job after school, I worked as an IT Support in a Newspaper house, I had to work shifts, and show up at work on public holidays and festivals and I didn\’t like that I missed family gatherings.
So I spoke to my mum who spoke to my uncle who spoke to a friend that runs an IT firm.
On a rainy Wednesday just like today, I got a text from my uncle with an address in a part of VI. The text said \’go and drop your CV at xxxx Limited\’. My office was in Marina so I took a bike during the break time to drop the CV while wondering why I couldn\’t send it as an email.
Anyway, I got there, told the Secretary I needed to drop my CV with Mr. XYZ. She told me Mr. XYZ was conducting interviews and asked if I was next applicant. 🙄Appli-what?. \’No ma\’am\’, I responded. I was just asked to drop my CV, already panicking because I was not prepared for the interview.
She said I should just prepare in case he wants to interview me. 1. I wasn\’t dressed for an interview 2. I didn\’t know Jack about the company or the services they offered.
While I waited for him to finish up his interview sessions Madam Secretary did a crash course with me and gave me details on the questions she thinks I may be asked. Between us and my Bold 7 Blackberry phone we practised a few things before he came out, saw me and invited me in for an interview.
In retrospect, I should have told him I wasn\’t ready for an interview but I thought I\’d just try. Of course I did badly, even though I answered questions about the company well because the Secretary coached me (he commented about it), I flunked questions around the core job function, wasn\’t able to distill my experience into simple words, etc.
Why am I telling you this story? Because I\’ve found out that I\’ve needed coaches in my life after that Secretary, whether ones I paid or people around me that coached me in areas I needed help and I can be that coach for you.
Whether you are stuck in your career, have attended tonnes of job interviews without an offer or need help with career planning. Click this link to schedule a FREE consultation.
