Amy G. Casey

You know how a bad date does nothing but talk about himself? It’s a turnoff, right? But what he’s trying to do is “sell” you on how great he is, so you’ll go out with him again. So you don’t want to be like that and bore other people with your own greatness, right? In our culture it’s much more accepted to be self-deprecating than to brag.

And then… you need a job. The interview is one place where you really need to sell yourself – and it can feel uncomfortable because you’re not used to it.

After college I worked as a temp while I tried to get a “real” job. It was a tough market, but I was still surprised that I couldn’t land a job. Couldn’t people see how great I was?

My mentor, Deborah, gave me some great advice. She had set me up for an interview with a business woman known for her bluntness. Deborah told me to come on very strong. Be bold. Get creative with my answers and just go all out. I did and I got the job. In retrospect I could see that I had been much too timid and held back during interviews.

Like a good date, you can let your personality tell your story. It unfolds naturally in conversation when you are being yourself. A job interview is like dating, but compressed into only one or two encounters. The company is checking you out not just for experience and skills, but for how you’ll fit into corporate culture and how you work with people. You’re also checking out the company and their values to see if you want to make a commitment. Be bold enough to be honest about what you can offer and what you want from this relationship.

When you find the courage to really let your light shine, other people can actually see it!