re: Ever walked out of an interview?

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You sound mad.

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Happy as a clam. Making 70% more money now than what I would have made if they had hired me back then, and the opportunity that presented itself for my current job would never have come to fruition.

As far as finding other work for him, that would mean taking work away from the company that I used to work for, who is now also my bitch, and also left a little of a bad taste in my mouth.

So at this point I'm going to get them into a bidding war with each other.

Then I'm going to take that cost savings to my director and get another promotion later this year and never have to deal with either of those two fricks ever again....


..... or will I?

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So, knowing that I didn't want the job, I gave the best interview in history. No pressure, I just dazzled the guy with bullshite and promises. When I called into the agency she asked me, "What the hell did you do on that interview? He wants you to start immediately!"

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The last two interviews (that also led to promotions) that I had were when I was currently employed elsewhere, and not desperate for a job. Obviously nailed the interviews, but even nailed the shite out of the salary negotiations because I truly didn't give a shite....

The whole key is to not give a shite.

Its just like picking up girls.

Because when you don't give a shot, you are yourself.

Employers can spot straight through a person portraying to be something he's not.

Never did that, but in hindsight I wish that I did on one particular interview. I wish I had never showed up....but it was a good learning experience for me and influenced my decision to make serious changes in my career.

It was in early 2009....me and nearly every I know my age were getting laid off. The national economy was in the tank and a lot of people were struggling. There were just not many jobs out there. I was in Atlanta, which was hit particularly hard. I was in a company apartment lease so I had to leave almost right away. I ended up moving to a friend's apartment in Baton Rouge to save money.

At first it didn't seem so hopeless. I had a couple of years experience at a very big, reputable firm (which was now belly-up)....so I was confident that I could find something.

I underestimated how bad things were. It seemed like so many people were losing their jobs all over the place. It looked like big, reputable companies like General Motors and GGP were going to to belly up.

Needless to say, it was very humbling and painful time for me and millions of others. I was just one of an endless supply of experienced candidates applying for precious few openings. On more than one occasion, I'd hear about a possible job opening from a friend of mine only for that friend to get RIF'd just like what seemed to be nearly everyone else.

I must have applied to hundreds of positions. A week turned into a month, then two months, etc. Money started to get really tight, and reality started to sink in. It occurred to me that the economy was in bad shape and I was in a field that would probably not see very much positive news for a long time. My goals and what I envisioned myself being when I was growing up was starting to seem so distant and impossible.

It took a long time, but I finally got an interview at a company in New Orleans. It was the same thing I had been doing for the past 4 years before I got laid off. The pay was less than half of my previous salary but I was pretty desperate at the time. I knew I could do this job very well, and I could figure out how to make it work on such low pay.

I get in my suit and drive to New Orleans. I'm there a few minutes early, introduce myself, etc. The older guy who I interviewed with starts off with a half hour diatribe about how he prefers to only hire people from New Orleans. He went on to say that he thinks people my age don't have any experience, always demand too much money, and that we don't appreciate a good opportunity when we see it. He lectured me like I was some 16 year old. He was a real a-hole to me at a time when I was already having to consider giving up and starting over. It was very insulting, especially considering how I'd almost take any glimmer of opportunity if it came my direction at that time.

It was a trigger for me. Something clicked and I realized that I would probably drown if I didn't change my career path significantly. The interview was over by noon, and I was at CEBA building at LSU inquiring about applying for grad school by 3.

I cut my losses, enrolled in grad school, and started the process of reinventing myself. I gave LSU what few dollars I had left in my retirement savings. 6 years later, I'm in a far better position in a better industry. I'm positioning myself as an expert in my field, I get to travel a lot for work, I own a beautiful house, and earn way more than I ever expected to earn at this age.

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Be careful of the toes you step on today, they may be connected to the arse you have to kiss tomorrow

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Wiser words have never been spoken...