This morning I had a phone interview for a position I applied for a few months ago. I got up early, showered and dressed as if I were going in to the office. I wasn’t dressed up, but I also didn’t put on my regular scrubby jeans and polo shirt that I wear around the house when I am not going out. It was important for me to feel professional during the interview, and dressing for it felt important. And even though the interview was this morning, I kept on my decent clothes through the rest of the day.
Dressing for the interview was part of a process I use to put me in a particular frame of mind. Another approach that I use when doing phone interview to consider it a conversation with colleagues rather than an interview to impress potential employers. Although the people on that call have the power to decide whether or not I remain a candidate in the position, each of the people who were on the phone today are people I would be working with if I got the job. I wanted to talk with them, exchange ideas and offer suggestions about various issues, respond to their questions and ask questions of my own. At various points during the conversation I got up and walked around my room. It helped me think and also use up any nervous energy I might have had. I felt relaxed and confident addressing the questions that came from the group (there were five people on the call.)
I am grateful to have had the interview. After months of sending out resumes and applications with little action or response, it felt good to be able to talk about my experience, think about what I’ve done and speculate on what I would do in a given situation. It reminded me that I have skills and experience to bring to an employer, one of the strongest of those is communication. It felt good talking. Sometimes in the isolation of the job search–spending solo hours reviewing job sites, crafting cover letter after cover letter, revising and tailoring my resume–it can feel like I no longer have skills or anything useful to offer. It reminds me that I need to continue seeking ways to use my brain and communication skills even if in volunteer or other roles.
I plan to carry the momentum of this morning’s interview with me throughout this week. It’s given me the energy to get back to scouring the job sites and continuing to do the other work necessary to find a job. I am also continuing to ask the universe about what else I can be doing to generate income. I have a number of things tickling on the periphery of my consciousness about what I should be doing next. Writing this blog has reminded me how much I enjoy writing and have a knack for it. I want to explore if there are ways for me to begin writing for profit. I also want to keep working with people as a coach and with organizations as a consultant. There are a number of ways I can be using the gifts I’ve been given. I simply need some clarity about the what, the when and the how.
I am grateful for how this day has unfolded. Gratitude is becoming the fuel that keeps me moving forward. I want to continue on a daily basis to cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving and appreciation for everything. For me it is now about more than writing a list of 10 things or 100 things I am grateful for–it’s about living gratitude on a moment-by-moment, day-by-day basis. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the practice and to sharing the learning as I go along.
