On Monday I was nervous. Beyond nervous. Words had started to come to me in slow motion and I was shaky. I was on my way to meet with the owner of the company. The owner. THE OWNER. I needed to turn it on, and fast. Mister picked me up and started the drive across town but I couldn’t hold a conversation. I think I shushed him when he tried to talk to me. Using the word “shush”.
I was doomed and, evidently, an eighty year old librarian to top it off.
I was up late Friday night piecing my portfolio together, out early Saturday morning to have it printed and to buy a new top and sweater pair for the meeting. Something that would immediately communicate who I was, whatever that meant. I had to remember to keep breathing.
“I’m a strong communicator, I learn systems quickly, at my last….”
And then suddenly we were there. We pulled up to the building I did a crazed final check to make sure I had access to everything I needed:
Safety Blanket Items
- Planner
- iPhone
- Water bottle
Interview Items
- Pen
- Portfolio
- List of questions in planner
I took a deep breath and steadied myself. I stepped out of the car, thanked Mister for the ride, and walked towards the building. I WILL ace this. I will impress. I will-
And then all of the sudden my feet weren’t on the ground. I was up for a moment and then slammed down hard into the sidewalk about a foot away from the door, and 50 feet away from the conference room I was going to be interviewed in. I hauled myself up in one piece, examined my portfolio, and waved to Mister – who was frozen behind the wheel in total disbelief – before clambering into the building on toes and heels with assistance from my death grip on the brick wall beside me.
If Ev’Yan’s style statement is “genuine eloquence“, in that moment mine was “terrified baby giraffe”.
So it has been a stressful week. There was the interview, the waiting for phone calls, Mister leaving on his first business trip in a good long while, tending to my new bruises from the fall (though the interview went quite well!) and all the normal puppy disasters that a week will hold. And it’s kind of fun to be in the middle for now, away from adult decisions and safe from failure. When it feels like so much could change, I like having a cradle of time in the middle where I can just Que Sera Sera the whole thing without being excited or saddened by the outcome.
Mostly I’m hoping that if I’m as much on the brink of something as it feels like I am, getting the spectacular failure out of my system before I get in the building is a good thing. And if the universe has given you an abrupt reality check this week I hope it hasn’t involved bruises!
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
My butt huts for you. That is so totally something that would happen to me that I am not sure whether to laugh or cry for you!
Yay for not letting a little physical impediment get in the way of doing a knock-out interview! Fingers crossed you hear what you want to hear … and soon!
Ouch.
Glad you’re OK and that the interview went well after that. I’ve been feeling the pressure a lot lately myself, I think we should all start a support group…oh, wait, I think we technically have already… ;)
I’m glad the fall didn’t get in the way of your interview (ouch by the way)! I bet it went swimmingly well. :)
Ouch! I am glad that you still had a great interview despite the fall. (Which is something that would happen to me). Enjoy the rest of your week!
fingers definitely crossed for you :)
Nothing like a little extra excitement to add the mix of emotions. At least you didn’t break a bone! I’m so glad the interview went well. I’m sure your personality and your talent were shining through during your interview, and they’d be crazy not to hire you. I can’t wait to hear the good news!
P.S. I tripped up the stairs on the way to my interview as well. I think it’s a sign of good luck!
xoxo
DUDE!
This was a delightful read – very well written. :)
Secondly, I am so excited. I wish you could divulge more details, because I’m a curious little cat. (If we lived closer, I’d be coming over for tea and cookies and chatting. Ooo, that’d be fun!)
Did they find your portfolio and contact you!? You are a superstar!
Crossing my fingers for you!
This winter, I’ve become a pro at falling. Usually it’s to balance out the good things to come. So I have my fingers crossed for you!
I hope you’re OK! No broken bones, right? I’m excited for you!
Isn’t that rush of adrenaline before an interview like, the best? It’s not quite fear, but it’s like you’re whole body is turning it on, knowing that you have to be your best, your most confident.
oh you poor girl taking a digger right before the interview! now that’s something that would happen to me.
keeping my fingers crossed for you missy!
Mostly I’m hoping that if I’m as much on the brink of something as it feels like I am, getting the spectacular failure out of my system before I get in the building is a good thing.
Very true, m’dear! If you are half as charming in “real life” as you are on this blog, I’m 100 per cent positive that you have nothing to worry about. I’m so excited for you!
I hope your bruises heal quickly! You sound like you were very prepared and put-together! Good luck, lady :)
*I mean, except for the fall… with the portfolio and new outfit and all that…
Ohhhh, geez! I giggled at your description of falling. I would have loved to see hubby’s face! Glad the interview went well!
Ooh–sounds painful, though I am glad to hear that the interview went well. I can’t wait to hear more about it all. Keep on staying calm in between everything. You’re very obviously in all of our thoughts!
Oh you poor thing! But you’re right. If the worst part of the interview was the fall beforehand, that must have been an excellent interview. I wish you so much luck!
Oh dear…that sounds like something that I would do :) I hope it all turns out well for you!
Fingers crossed!
this post made me cringe on your behalf
I am always tripping / falling / banging into things at the most inopportune moments
I admire you for picking yourself up and continuing on with your interview
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I would probably need a bit of a cry if it had happened to me
Enjoy this in between time! I’m excited to hear what happens.
“terrified baby giraffe”!!! I just got the perfect visual of what that might look like. ;] You poor thing! But it sounds like you did well for yourself, in spite of your jitters. I’m crossing my fingers for you!
I used to fall in NYC all the time. Damn ice. More reasons I’m glad to live in California :)
oh no… man, i would have been so rattled at that point, i think i would have failed the interview. good for you for not letting it mess you up!! i hope the bruises are healing nicely ;-)
I’m crossing my fingers and toes for you, Kyla!
I have a good feeling about this job for you :) Maybe tripping in front of the office was the universe’s way of pushing your towards your future. Hopefully the bruises will be worth it.
I trip during in the most awkward times as well. I hope you hear good news!
hope everything goes wonderously and you get the job. fingers crossed for ya!
Oh I hate that you fell right before your interview. I know that probably broke whatever focus you had at that time. Good luck!
I would’ve been mortified if I had fell before a big interview! Well done you for trucking on and doing really well with it despite the hiccups!
OMG I’m so glad you’re okay. You’re a trooper to get back up and keep going. Keep me posted on the interview!
I hope your bruises heal quickly and you’re not in too much pain. Congrats on having the interview over with and I’m sure you looked smashing with your new outfit.
Are you mad that I laughed a little out loud? Consider it a testament to your descriptive writing skills.
I know you did great- fingers crossed!
Oh noes! I’m so sorry you fell! But it def made for some good blogging material! ANd I love that you referred to yourself as a “terrified baby giraffe”! Eeee! SO cute! I bet you looked just lovely in your interview outfit and I bet you rocked the interview! Can’t wait to hear how it turned out!
Oh no, was it icy, or did you just lose the ability to walk?
Sometimes I count my bruises for fun. We pasty Irish people bruise a lot.
Also, “graceful” isn’t exactly my middle name…
Glad the interview went well!
Yikes. Well, at least it took your mind off the interview for a moment! Glad to see that you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and did your thang!
Also, I clicked the link to Apricot Tea. That girl has wicked cool style.
Oh NO! I’m so sorry you fell. That is no fun under normal circumstances, let alone before a job interview. I fell down the stairs when I was too busy on my phone instead of paying attention when I was at a national training for my work, and the first thing I thought was Man.. now I know why old people break their hips when they fall. It hurts! Nothing like when you were eight and would fall down. I’m glad things still went well for you though!
I know that feeling of being on the brink of something. It’s wonderful but so delicate.
Anyone would be really dumb not to hire you. Cuz I know you would be amazing at anything you set out to do.
Re: If Ev’Yan’s style statement is “genuine eloquence“, in that moment mine was “terrified baby giraffe”.
LOL! You are eloquent! Who else would have been able to make such a comparison?! Love you!