Do you have experience assessing people whether interviewing prior to hiring and/or assessing the performance of existing talent? Chances are most of us have been the interviewee or the interviewer at some point.
Over the last two weeks I’ve spent the majority of my time assessing individual candidates as well as consulting service providers and it has been energizing and fascinating. I love meeting interesting people and love it when a candidate really takes hold of a question and surprises me with their answer. One candidate was asked to write what his “dream job” would be, and his response literally had me in tears with both laughter and amazement!
The theme of these conversations has not been “are you good enough” because in general all of these people have fantastic credentials and experience. In these interviews I’m generally doing two things:
- Assessing the human. Their heart, passion, attitude, and self-awareness. Are they honest? Will they be good for the team? Will they persevere in challenging situations? Will they demonstrate the core values of their employer?
- Selling the opportunity. I often use the phrase “keys to the kingdom” as a metaphor regarding what I believe the candidates can receive if they accept the position. The candidate can benefit, grow, and achieve her or his dreams as part of this incredible journey. Truly the opportunities are endless, and if they had any clue as to what it could mean they would jump for joy and leave their current position immediately. I am excited and I mean it from the bottom of my heart!
Unfortunately even highly qualified and extremely motivated people miss out on unimaginable opportunities. They don’t understand the vision or they are just not interested enough to try to understand.
And so it is with the opportunity God wants to give to us.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
In Luke Chapter 12, Jesus seeks to convince and convict us that what we might see or think here is not what is being offered by him eternally. Our perception is too often focused on the things of this Earth; power, money, things, experiences. Or we get caught up in fearing the bad things; illness, pain, loss.
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34)
Don’t let another day go by and miss the opportunity. As my dear friend and fellow Bible Journal author (Rick Jebb) said to me recently: “Some people might find it ok to live this life without God, but being without God in the next life is not going to go so well.
You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)
Father God, I repent for seeking the things of this world, for putting me first. For constantly being distracted from the eternal opportunity you are offering. Forgive me in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.