It’s a funny thing but I can bang on about the things around
me all day. I can confidently write them here or tell people in person. I can
joke about myself 24/7. I love being the centre of attention – I absolutely do.
When it comes to work I know what I am doing and when I
don’t I can usually figure out who to ask. I know I’m pretty good at what I do
and can happily demonstrate while I am doing it and prove it to my peers.
But.
As soon as I have to talk specifically about myself in a
serious way and promote myself to people above – I
just crumble.
I’ve tried writing bios about me and hate it. I tried
writing a CV and really struggled. If writing positively about myself is bad
then boasting about myself seriously in person is even worse.
Take job interviews, for example.
No matter how confident I may be about my ability to fit a
role, as soon as someone sits there looking at me and says “Tell me about you”
I just fall apart.
The problem is that I can’t joke about me. I can’t hide my
self-doubt and fears behind a wall of defensive one-liners. I have to be
serious.
I really struggle to do that.
I also struggle with the whole waffling thing. Saying the
right buzz words or lines that make out you are something better than you are.
Take my most recent interview, for example – just the other
day.
I am a telecoms engineer and without boring you with
detail I have specialised in three areas during my time in the industry, these
specialisms we call voice, transmission and data (trust me when I say you don’t
want me to explain that any further).
Now, this is pretty good. Often people will only work in one
of those fields but I’ve managed to get to a fairly acceptable level in all
three. Out of those fields I have spent most of my time and generally prefer
transmission but mixed heavily with voice. And I have to say I am more than
happy working in those two areas especially.
Fair enough – you might think.
So my most recent interview was for a job that is specifically
voice related rather than the other two and I was asked “So what do you think
you are strongest at – voice, data or transmission?” I immediately answered
transmission, because it’s true, and then just as immediately kicked myself.
I was there for a voice job.
It’s not bloody rocket science! The answer was VOICE!!
But I just couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t say the thing
they wanted to hear because it just isn’t true.
I’m pretty useless.
And now I wait. Wait to see if honesty stands for anything
in the world of job hunting, or if it’s all about the waffle. I do know one
thing – I’d be bloody good in that role. Shame I couldn’t say that at the time.
8 comments:
Glen, I'd say it's your upbringing that's preventing you from tooting your own horn, as they say in America. I grew up in Ireland in the 80's, and when I came to America, was shocked by how people had confidence to embellish their every aspect to make themselves seem indespensible to employers. British and Irish people are put down as kids if they brag, as opposed to America,where indeed, it's encouraged. You should have a look at the CV's of people I know, who are absolute rubbish; they're amazing to read. I still feel uncomfortable receiving compliments, a throwback to my childhood. Go on Glen, embrace universal hyperbole!
Well....I think you are great and I would give you a job anytime ( if I had a job to give)..have confidence in yourself...you are a man worth having in more ways than one.
I feel interviews are extremely hard to do. I always say one has to be thinking 180 miles an hour. I probably would have said transmission, but voice is a close second. I'm a quick learner and after a short time doing voice I would be equally as strong with both. A lot of things are looked at in an interview, and you never really know what will make the biggest impression on the person interviewing, so hang in there.
Good luck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Mind you, they'd be daft not to employ you.
If it is to be, then it will be.
I will always remember my first job interview: Sixteen, a month out of school, going for a trainee draughtsman's job with the Council, got asked by my future boss "what do you know about sewers?" What am I supposed to know? I gave the willingness to learn line, rather than the "what's in them is the same kind stuff you're talking now!"
Trish - very true, I'm just too English - I'll keep trying
Frances - I am :-)
CW - I hope so
Barbara - thanks :-)
Nick - Well I sure now how to clog them up would have also been a decent answer
I think that it is a very British trait that people are called braggers if they big themselves up. I had to laugh at your answer in the interview!
If it helps, I was interviewing someone once and I asked what his biggest achievement was. He said, "getting my license back after being banned." See you are not as bad as that!
Hello, Glen. Pie here. I'm going through some blogs I bookmarked a while ago to see if they're still alive! I'm happy to see that yours is alive and kicking.
I'm feeling for you on that one, Glen. Interviews are horrible.
What I like about temping/freelancing is that I get a chance to prove myself straight away and I will either stand or fall by my ability to hit the ground running. Trying to say 'the right kind of things', using business talk and other horse crap to try and get the job is soul destroying as far as I'm concerned.
If you got the job since you made this post, then that's great. If you didn't, then that's also great, as the better role for you is on its way.
On an unrelated note, how do I subscribe to this blog? Blogger doesn't make it easy.
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