The Job Interview
Listen To The Following Reading
Evan had an important job interview scheduled for Monday morning. He prepared all weekend, reviewing his notes and practicing answers. He felt confident walking in, but during the interview, he noticed the manager’s expression change. What he thought sounded confident might have come across differently.
After the interview, Evan replayed the conversation in his mind and told a friend,
“I thought I broke the ice when I started talking about teamwork, but maybe I came across too strong. I tried to point out my experience, but I think I might’ve put my foot in my mouth when I joked about the company’s busy schedule. I wanted to sound honest, but I might’ve sounded careless instead.”
Later that evening, the interviewer, Ms. Chen, spoke to a coworker about the meeting. She said,
“Evan seemed smart and capable, but he got off on the wrong foot with that comment about long hours. I could tell he was trying to stand out, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Still, he had good ideas and handled questions well. Maybe he just didn’t realize how his tone could come across in a formal setting.”
Discussion Prompts
Explain what Evan was feeling after the interview.
What did Evan mean when he said:
broke the ice
came across
point out
put my foot in my mouth
Explain what Ms. Chen was feeling after the interview.
What did Ms. Chen mean when she said:
got off on the wrong foot
stand out
left a bad taste in my mouth
come across
What do their words and reactions tell you about how people interpret confidence differently in professional situations?
