Hey guys, thought I'd share a funny (incredibly awkward) experience that just happened to me.
So the founder of the startup I was working with last Summer (I gave them the pseudonym 'SmartChair') that I detailed in my progress thread, "Learning Marketing in the Trenches," emailed me randomly last week. We'll call him, "Bill." "Hey Testament" Bill started off, very casually announcing that SmartChair was looking for a social media manager/content creator for the company. Since I had gotten SmartChair so much blog attention when I was working with them last Summer, he said that I came to mind immediately. The email finished up by letting me know that if I was interested, he'd like to chat with me about it.
"Hmmm," I thought to myself. "I've never actually done any social media managing before. I'm not sure if I'd be the right fit. But then again, I'd never done any PR or marketing before I started working with them, and I hit that one out of the park - so maybe I should try it and find out. After all, what's there to lose? Besides, Bill is a cool guy - I'm sure he's aware of my inexperience in general. After all, why on earth would I have spent so much time promoting SmartChair completely for free if I were a super baller tech hotshot? And this will be a great way to get even deeper into the startup culture and learn from some awesome entrepreneurs!"
So with a bit of cautious optimism, I responded back that I'd be interested in talking to him about it.
A day later, Bill responded that he was glad I was interested and suggested a skype chat of 3 today for the casual, friendly chat. He seemed to have added 5 more people into our email, who all said they'd be available at 3. People I'd never seen before...so I was a bit confused. Was this supposed to be a group chat about SmartChair? Hm... I wondered, naively drumming my fingers against the top of my head in deep thought. A sudden flash of concern caught me. "I really hope this isn't some 5-on-1 group interview specifically focused on me." I didn't think so though - I mean, as I'd already thought about, Bill knew what it was like to work with me (if only remotely) and what my work ethic was like and lack of experience. I'm probably worrying over nothing!
Somewhere in the nethers of space and time, I'd like to think God/The Universe/The Force (take your pick) gave a soft, pity-filled chuckle for me at that exact moment.
Flash forward to about two hours ago. Just as I was about to go on the chat, my mentor stopped by. I talked with him for a minute about what was up, and he let me know what he thought of the situation.
Mentor: "Oh man, Testament. You should've prepared more."
Testament: "You think so? I mean, it's not a huge issue right? I mean, I want to be honest that I don't know much about social media management. I don't even really want the job that much, I don't care that much if it works out or not. Learning experience, right?"
Mentor: "NO TESTAMENT! This is your reputation! If you interview badly, any time anyone asks them about you, they're going to tell that person exactly what they think, which won't be glowing with positivity. It's super bad."
Testmanet: "Oh...really? Uh..."
Mentor: "Cancel it. Reschedule and I'll help go over some of this stuff with you. You need to prepare. When is it?"
Testament: "Uhh...it's right now."
Mentor: "...I see. Well, in that case, just go on with them and try to wing it. Also, don't mention any of the companies you've been working for with me." (mentor no longer worked with them, they each left on...not the greatest of terms)
Testament: "...Eep."
My cautious optimism had been fully replaced by a sinking feeling of dread. So I go on with the Skype video interview, and I'm immediately greeted by 5 stern faces. I greet them all as well, and then the realization hit me - this WAS a full on interview focused on me. D'oh!
The questions of doom began.
Bill: "So, Testament, tell me what your general background is in this field and what exactly you would contribute to us."
Testament: "Uh...welll....uh...."
*Awkward silence*
I spent a few minutes just now writing out the transcript of the conversation, but you can infer everything that happened from that snippet. I didn't have any background I could talk about! I thought he must've had SOME idea that was the case! But no, he was clearly expecting me to have had some sort of long and accomplished past to regale them with heroic tales of. I completely choked.
Bill and the others kept asking me open ended and TOUGH interview questions that I totally wasn't expecting. I watched as Bill's face in the interview turned - from sternness to a look of full shock and, what I could only describe as intense, seething anger - very quickly, and basically stayed that way for the rest of the 10 minutes of ungodly awkwardness.
In record time it had changed to the exact look someone would have if you'd just called them a colorful racial slur in the middle of a casual conversation.
At one point, one of the other guys stepped in and really softened up the questions and asked me what I like to do in my spare time, and what really motivates me.
Now, I've been pretty much 100% immersed in all things Fastlane related since I read MJ's book and joined the forum about a year and a half ago. But for some reason, my mind just pulled a complete blank. I couldn't think of anything other than the awkward silence, with everyone staring at me as the "Uhhh..." came out of my throat...and the ever furrowing brows on Bill's face.
Testament: "Uhhh...well...y'know...music's...music's...uhh, cool."
Other Interviewer: "Music....?"
Testament: "Yeah. You know."
*Even more awkward silence*
Testament: "Y-...y'know...?
Other Interview: "...Uhm...yes. Yes. Well, what exactly about...'music,' is it that you like?"
Testament: "Playing it...is cool."
OI: "...I...see."
It was about this time, my stupid, stupid brain tried to throw in some corporate lingo to give me an air of credibility.
Testament: "You see...uh, it gives me...creative flexibility...you know...which...which is SUPER important in this, sphere. The...target demographic, that we're going for...you know, you have to be able to write to that...customer avatar! Yes. Yes it helps me with that, certainly. Yes."
I wish I could say that there was some sort of rock bottom of awkwardness that was eventually hit, where it didn't go any lower. Unfortuantely, that never happened - it just kept getting more uncomfortable. I would say to a ludicrous degree, but maybe that's just me.
At last, we said our goodbyes and it was over. I felt a weird mix of elation and embarrassment. All I could think was, "Man, this is at some point going to be hilarious."
And hopefully it is! Although I'm still reeling a bit over the general awfulness of it...(and the fact that I said I'd follow-up and send them samples of my non-existent professional copywriting work
)
Anyhow, at this point in the post, I'd like to share in the awkward love of my fellow Fastlaners. And lets extend it to any sort of business situation, not just interviews!
Have you guys ever had an awkward business situation that tops mine?
So the founder of the startup I was working with last Summer (I gave them the pseudonym 'SmartChair') that I detailed in my progress thread, "Learning Marketing in the Trenches," emailed me randomly last week. We'll call him, "Bill." "Hey Testament" Bill started off, very casually announcing that SmartChair was looking for a social media manager/content creator for the company. Since I had gotten SmartChair so much blog attention when I was working with them last Summer, he said that I came to mind immediately. The email finished up by letting me know that if I was interested, he'd like to chat with me about it.
"Hmmm," I thought to myself. "I've never actually done any social media managing before. I'm not sure if I'd be the right fit. But then again, I'd never done any PR or marketing before I started working with them, and I hit that one out of the park - so maybe I should try it and find out. After all, what's there to lose? Besides, Bill is a cool guy - I'm sure he's aware of my inexperience in general. After all, why on earth would I have spent so much time promoting SmartChair completely for free if I were a super baller tech hotshot? And this will be a great way to get even deeper into the startup culture and learn from some awesome entrepreneurs!"
So with a bit of cautious optimism, I responded back that I'd be interested in talking to him about it.
A day later, Bill responded that he was glad I was interested and suggested a skype chat of 3 today for the casual, friendly chat. He seemed to have added 5 more people into our email, who all said they'd be available at 3. People I'd never seen before...so I was a bit confused. Was this supposed to be a group chat about SmartChair? Hm... I wondered, naively drumming my fingers against the top of my head in deep thought. A sudden flash of concern caught me. "I really hope this isn't some 5-on-1 group interview specifically focused on me." I didn't think so though - I mean, as I'd already thought about, Bill knew what it was like to work with me (if only remotely) and what my work ethic was like and lack of experience. I'm probably worrying over nothing!
Somewhere in the nethers of space and time, I'd like to think God/The Universe/The Force (take your pick) gave a soft, pity-filled chuckle for me at that exact moment.
Flash forward to about two hours ago. Just as I was about to go on the chat, my mentor stopped by. I talked with him for a minute about what was up, and he let me know what he thought of the situation.
Mentor: "Oh man, Testament. You should've prepared more."
Testament: "You think so? I mean, it's not a huge issue right? I mean, I want to be honest that I don't know much about social media management. I don't even really want the job that much, I don't care that much if it works out or not. Learning experience, right?"
Mentor: "NO TESTAMENT! This is your reputation! If you interview badly, any time anyone asks them about you, they're going to tell that person exactly what they think, which won't be glowing with positivity. It's super bad."
Testmanet: "Oh...really? Uh..."
Mentor: "Cancel it. Reschedule and I'll help go over some of this stuff with you. You need to prepare. When is it?"
Testament: "Uhh...it's right now."
Mentor: "...I see. Well, in that case, just go on with them and try to wing it. Also, don't mention any of the companies you've been working for with me." (mentor no longer worked with them, they each left on...not the greatest of terms)
Testament: "...Eep."
My cautious optimism had been fully replaced by a sinking feeling of dread. So I go on with the Skype video interview, and I'm immediately greeted by 5 stern faces. I greet them all as well, and then the realization hit me - this WAS a full on interview focused on me. D'oh!
The questions of doom began.
Bill: "So, Testament, tell me what your general background is in this field and what exactly you would contribute to us."
Testament: "Uh...welll....uh...."
*Awkward silence*
I spent a few minutes just now writing out the transcript of the conversation, but you can infer everything that happened from that snippet. I didn't have any background I could talk about! I thought he must've had SOME idea that was the case! But no, he was clearly expecting me to have had some sort of long and accomplished past to regale them with heroic tales of. I completely choked.
Bill and the others kept asking me open ended and TOUGH interview questions that I totally wasn't expecting. I watched as Bill's face in the interview turned - from sternness to a look of full shock and, what I could only describe as intense, seething anger - very quickly, and basically stayed that way for the rest of the 10 minutes of ungodly awkwardness.
In record time it had changed to the exact look someone would have if you'd just called them a colorful racial slur in the middle of a casual conversation.
At one point, one of the other guys stepped in and really softened up the questions and asked me what I like to do in my spare time, and what really motivates me.
Now, I've been pretty much 100% immersed in all things Fastlane related since I read MJ's book and joined the forum about a year and a half ago. But for some reason, my mind just pulled a complete blank. I couldn't think of anything other than the awkward silence, with everyone staring at me as the "Uhhh..." came out of my throat...and the ever furrowing brows on Bill's face.
Testament: "Uhhh...well...y'know...music's...music's...uhh, cool."
Other Interviewer: "Music....?"
Testament: "Yeah. You know."
*Even more awkward silence*
Testament: "Y-...y'know...?
Other Interview: "...Uhm...yes. Yes. Well, what exactly about...'music,' is it that you like?"
Testament: "Playing it...is cool."
OI: "...I...see."
It was about this time, my stupid, stupid brain tried to throw in some corporate lingo to give me an air of credibility.
Testament: "You see...uh, it gives me...creative flexibility...you know...which...which is SUPER important in this, sphere. The...target demographic, that we're going for...you know, you have to be able to write to that...customer avatar! Yes. Yes it helps me with that, certainly. Yes."
I wish I could say that there was some sort of rock bottom of awkwardness that was eventually hit, where it didn't go any lower. Unfortuantely, that never happened - it just kept getting more uncomfortable. I would say to a ludicrous degree, but maybe that's just me.
At last, we said our goodbyes and it was over. I felt a weird mix of elation and embarrassment. All I could think was, "Man, this is at some point going to be hilarious."
And hopefully it is! Although I'm still reeling a bit over the general awfulness of it...(and the fact that I said I'd follow-up and send them samples of my non-existent professional copywriting work
)Anyhow, at this point in the post, I'd like to share in the awkward love of my fellow Fastlaners. And lets extend it to any sort of business situation, not just interviews!
Have you guys ever had an awkward business situation that tops mine?
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