Interview Summary, Jan 3rd

It was a small office that worked  in public private partnerships in renewable energy and a couple other traits that I feature prominently on my Resume, Template B: energy systems peon. 

First, there's a principle: better to be surprised than disappointed. 

Expect the worst, pray for the best. 

Etc, etc.

Having said that, it wasn't a worse case scenario, but close. 

I didnt do enough research. 

Didn't have good questions. 

I was advised to get a leather bound folder and use it to take notes, but haven't done that yet. 

I hadn't had any coffee. 

My shirt had a stain. 

My socks are too thin. 

The car wouldn't start. 

I just got back from vacation yesterday and haven't adjusted. 

My mouth was dry and when the receptionist asked if I wanted water, she gave me a small plastic bottle. 

I hate plastic. Plastic water bottles are a cancer. What kind if office in this city, in the year 2013 uses plastic water bottles? 

So instead I sat parched, thinking "my prospects aren't any good to begin with, let's see how much more challenging I can make them."

He hadn't shaved in a few days but was respectful and polite. 

She was drop-dead beautiful but otherwise didn't say much, except to ask about my last job, speaking Spanish. 

I answered in Spanish which was a mistake cause that has nothing to do with the job I was currently interviewing for. I just fell for those gotcha bilingual questions I often get in the other types of jobs I apply for. 

I talked a lot about myself. 

They asked me about my experience. 

They asked, "why do you want this job". Dammit, the most predictable question and I blew it! I dropped the keywords but not very effectively. 

He asked what the biggest lesson I learned from my Big Project. I was caught off-guard by that one, gave an answer but could've given a better one.

He asked if I had hard skills, and I BSed an answer that well, not really but I learn knew things quickly. 

He asked about my last job, and I could barely remember what it was. 

Then interview was over. 

"Do you have any questions for us?" 

I thought I said something wrong and they pulled the venerable trap door from under me and in a matter of cartoonish seconds I disappear with a puff of smoke like Wiley Coyote leaving  behind nothing but a hand painted sign saying "drats. Not again. "

I struggled to ask something and manged to get a "good question!" response. 

Then I hurried out. It was obvious I was hurrying. 

Then I passed the next interviewee in the hallway. Obviously taller and nervouser than I.