This is the length of time I
have been out of America. It’s the longest I’ve ever been outside the country,
let alone the state of California. It’s the length of time I've had to obtain a
total 6 job interviews. I have completed 2 of them, and by the end of next week
I'll have completed the other 3. This is the length of time I've done 3
networking meetings with owners of companies.
I’m
beginning to understand how business works here in New Zealand. It’s different
than in America, it’s more relaxed; people tend to want to ‘catch-up’ or ‘chat’
before we get to the meat of the meeting AKA the informational, questions &
answer portion. It’s nice; people seem to take time for others more. But to be
honest, I am so used to the go-go-go get it done, on to the next meeting, that
I find myself feeling anxious, feeling like I'm waiting on people. Waiting for
the meat, enough of this teatime, let’s get on with the WORK.
WORK WORK
WORK
With my
personality it’s been hard to S L O W down. Are kiwis just procrastinating at
meetings or are they truly interested in how my weekend was…I wonder if I seem
super serious compared to the other NZ natives being interviewed. The classic
question they ask, “So, *glances down at resume* Jessica...*pauses for a
minute* tell us a little about your background.” (yes, I’m over-exaggerating) I
immediately begin to report on my skills, examples of past experiences I’ve
done to elaborate on what I’m explaining. Is this not what I should do? Should
I be talking more about my personality, and how I interact with others? I
always felt those kind of traits will stand out in the way you mingle with the
interviewer.
At school
you are informed on proper ways to conduct yourself during an interview. But
what if those ways you were taught are structured to fit a completely different
structure of the actual interviews you are going to?
Then what?
Do you adapt? Yes! Of course! That doesn’t mean changing who you are, the way
you operate, or even to lie, but it does mean the style in which you go about
getting the information across changes.
With the 3
interviews coming up, I am going to explain my skills with examples just as I
have been doing, but I am going to try is to S L O W down, taking time to ask
clarifying questions before answering.
I hope they
find my American 'get er done' attitude as an asset to their company. Using me
as an example to the rest of the staff, a motivating factor to get everyone’s
ass in gear and on a track of productively. (with, of course, some laughs here
& there)
Wish me luck!
