The Most Helpful Interview Feedback I Ever Got, The Hard Way

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What You Can Learn From One of my Cringiest Early-Career Experiences

Do you ever look back at a job you didn’t get and wonder, “How in the world did I NOT get this job?”  You met every qualification and then some. You rocked the interviews. The job was yours. Or so you thought.

This happened to me very early in my career, and it turned out to be one of the most valuable professional lessons I’ve ever learned. 

Right after college, I moved to New York for an internship as a reporter at a financial newswire. I thought it would be exciting, but I was absolutely miserable there and knew I had to find a full-time job and was willing to go literally anywhere else.

I quickly landed a phone interview back in my North Carolina hometown with a tobacco industry publication. With my newly minted journalism degree and my portfolio of fresh clips, I knew I’d be a strong candidate. They flew me down for an interview.

I won’t pretend that covering an industry that actually kills people was my dream job. But journalism jobs were scarce, and I knew I had to start somewhere. I focused on the positives: I’d get to travel internationally, learn about magazines, and wouldn’t have to pay New York rent. 

After the interview, I flew back to New York and waited for my job offer. It never came. I was shocked. I called the hiring manager and begged for feedback.

I’ll never forget what he told me. He said something like, “You were great, but when you’re interviewing for jobs, you should try to show more enthusiasm for the actual position.”

Just then, I remembered him asking if I had any questions for him. My overly confident, 22-year-old self didn’t skip a beat. “Yes. What would you say people do AFTER they work here?”

Oops.

He paused. To this nice man’s credit, he did not end the interview right then. He named a couple examples of former staffers who had gone on to be business reporters and have other respectable careers.  The interview continued until its natural conclusion. In my mind, I crushed it. Except, I didn’t. I was young and inexperienced, and by asking what people went on to do after working there, I disrespected his position and the whole enterprise. I felt terrible.

It’s funny how the hardest lessons to learn are often the ones that stick. From then on, l only applied to jobs that I could summon authentic enthusiasm about. 

Not long after, I landed my first full-time job as a reporter covering environmental issues on Capitol Hill. I didn’t have to fake it, or talk myself into it. I knew that the job aligned with my passions and values. I knew I was in the exact right place. 

When you know what you care about and what you value, your enthusiasm for an opportunity that aligns will naturally shine through. Your authentic energy and enthusiasm will give you a big advantage. 

So before you apply to a new opportunity, take a moment to check in with yourself. Is there something about the job that feels exciting? Does it make your heartbeat a little faster?  If not, skip it. A lack of enthusiasm probably means that it’s not the job for you, and that’s OK.

Do you need some help creating a vision for what’s most important to you in your work? Book a free 30-minute consult with me to see if private coaching is right for you.