after a long hiatus
finally have something to talk about. this morning, i had a job interview with one of the big four audit companies and almost didn't go. i've been preparing for this interview for the last three days (and nights), but since last night i was getting so ansy, headachy, and nauseous that i just didn't want to go this morning. but that would obviously mean my chances of ever getting in with this particular firm would be over even before i gave it a chance. so i got up, showered, and made the rush-hour subway journey to downtown toronto. which stressed me out no end. i'm not used to riding the subway at rush hour...and seeing the hordes of people waiting at the platforms, and inside the trains...it's madness! and if i work in toronto i have to do this every single day. at that point, i was almost ready to get off and go back.
after getting all wound up, i reached the offices in the financial district, and just happened to be about 15 minutes early, which kind of gave me some time to nurse my frayed nerves. when time came for the interview, somehow all the nerves had vanished...i'd even forgotten that i'd had them. from my perspective, the interview went well. the interviewer was young, and since he was an HR guy, there wasn't a lot of technical questions to answer. and he had the bluest eyes i've ever seen. it's a surprise i didn't flirt with him, now that i think about it.
possible deal breakers if i don't get a call back for a second interview: 1) i fidgeted non-stop. i guess this is a sign that all the nervousness didn't go away...even though i was answering the questions confidently (or so i thought), i was fidgeting with my fingers everytime he was going into an explanation of anything. 2) i don't know if i made a good first impression on the receptionist....she thought i was an intern, i.e. she didn't regard me with much confidence/respect. 3) i think i said "stuff" way more than was necessary. 4) i had a hard time explaining to my interviewer that i was interested in working for a big business like theirs because of my choice of graduate studies. why did i want to do this stupid natural resource economics again?! 5) i think i repeated too much of the same stuff over and over (i said stuff again) and pointed out negatives that i didn't have to because he didn't ask about them. too much disclosure. this is what happens when you prepare too well for an interview.
hmm, after saying all those things, i can't help but wonder whether the interview went well. i think i had a similar feeling in my last face-to-face interview, and that one indeed hadn't gone well since i never got the offer. oh man.
well, that's my little story for the day. need to remember to send a thank you note.
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