My most memorable interview was when I argued with the hiring manager. Not arguing as in falling out, but having a professional debate that was quick-fire, responsive and to the point. It didn’t feel like any interview I ever had and I got the job. I interviewed not knowing anything about this hiring manager except for how we worked together during the interview being able to get to the point so quickly, and being able to share both of our views. He called me within an hour and offered me the job saying that he cancelled the later interviews and would like me to accept; I said yes immediately without hesitation and without even knowing what the terms were. If this was someone who would cancel interviews and be willing to take a risk with me not having direct experience of what the role would require, I should take a risk too: I would regret it if I didn’t.
I went back to the office and spoke to a colleague about my interview. Her eyes opened wide and said, do you know who interviewed you? I said yes, mentioned his name and she said do you know his job title? I said his job title as I read it on his email but I didn’t understand the significance… he was a Director and the role I was interviewed for was my first step into management. It dawned on me, this was a huge risk as I would be working alongside team members who were many levels above me and were one level off of directorship themselves, would I fail? No, this was a risk I had taken and an opportunity to learn not only from the director but also the team I would be working with that would help me develop.
I did grow… a lot! What a massive opportunity to take in a lot in such a short space of time. Not only did I have a busy director who gave me time when he could, delegated some director level meetings to me where I was empowered to make the decisions, gave me supplier relationship responsibility and when he wasn’t around, I could get coaching and mentoring from my peers in the team. Sometimes taking a risk does work, and whether it is a positive experience can be a positive outcome or it can be an opportunity for growth like having a manager/ team you don’t get on with, you learn what your leadership style is like and you understand yourself more.
Children take new risks all of the time. They haven’t done that roly-poly before but hey why not, let’s try it to even bigger things like joining a different sports group or going to a holiday club where you don’t know anyone. Our children do not say ‘No,’ because they don’t know anyone or haven’t been there before, they say yes and make their judgment from their own experiences. We encourage them to try new things as these are all opportunities so why not ourselves in our careers?
Skills Repeat 