Have you ever been in one of those job interviews where the tone is dull, energy is low, mood is somber, stress is in the air, and it seems like the interviewer’s main goal is to find out how horrible you are? Or worse, have you been this type of interviewer? If your answer is “no” to both, then good for you.
My perception is that type of interview was a technique from the pre-2000s and Hopefully most organizations do not interview like this anymore. Unfortunately that was that type of environment I’ve experienced as a candidate in the 1990s and thought that was how it was supposed to be.
Excuses are lies. – Jocko Willink
I’m surely guilty of perpetuating the tradition. It would be easy to blame the environment I learned from, but “excuses are lies”. I’m to blame. I’m a selfish human and no matter how hard I try, if I’m at the center, everything is off.
Then something changed.
Praise God for His mercy and wisdom (and perhaps His sense of humor) because today a major part of my job is assessing potential employees, consultants, vendor partners, etc. In the past two years I’ve interviewed approximately 200 candidates and this process has become one of the greatest joys in my career.
The difference: From an inward “me first” focus to outward, “Jesus and others” focus. Setting an environment where people feel relaxed, valued, respected and dare I say, loved. Ultimately, the leadership model in the organization where I work is that of a servant: Leaders do not exist to be served, they exist to serve.
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
In a recent interview, a candidate said “I am thankful to God” and from this moment I felt the joy of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit. As the gentleman spoke, I prayed silently and briefly for the right words; for God’s will to be done. We both shared some faith statements and I explained our servant leadership model, paraphrasing Matthew 20:28. Jesus was in the conversation and what a difference it made.
Today’s chapter is Psalm 73 and throughout most of the chapter the Psalmist talks about how the wicked prosper; even appearing jealous of the wicked. Then in the end the author acknowledges his own sin and turns bitterness into joy and praise. That’s the pattern in nearly every story of my life and probably yours as well.
Whatever your current challenge, illness, battle, argument, jealousy, take a step back and consider the pattern. We sin. We are guilty. If we choose to repent, we draw nearer to God and the joy is indescribable.
It is good to be near God.