SHARING EXPERIENCE: After interviewing with a US company, I realized something...

Summary

In this personal reflection, the speaker shares their experience of an unexpected job interview with a U.S.-based company. Despite already having a stable job, the speaker explores themes of career growth, self-worth, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with striving for more. They discuss their feelings of imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and the pressure to prove themselves, despite already having success. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes the importance of managing expectations and recognizing personal limits, while highlighting that growth and opportunities are still possible, even when things don’t go as planned.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker recently had a job interview with a US company despite not actively seeking a new job, as they were intrigued by opportunities in the market.
• 😀 The salary of a junior position offered by a company was notably high compared to the speaker's current senior salary, prompting feelings of self-doubt and frustration.
• 😀 The job posting emphasized that experience over five years would be seen as limiting growth, which made the speaker feel as though their career had plateaued and there were no opportunities left in large US tech companies.
• 😀 Despite initial feelings of being stuck, the speaker received an unexpected interview invitation from a company called Chigs, proving that opportunities can still arise even when they feel uncertain.
• 😀 The speaker realized that opportunities and growth exist for everyone, and companies have varied expectations for the types of employees they want to hire.
• 😀 The interview experience was not about whether they would succeed or fail, but rather about confronting and reflecting on their own emotional state and professional journey.
• 😀 The speaker experienced intense stress while preparing for the interview, staying up late for three weeks, which affected their performance at their current job.
• 😀 Despite not urgently needing a new job, the speaker's emotional attachment to the opportunity made them fear failure, a fear rooted in the desire to prove themselves.
• 😀 The speaker reflected on the importance of managing expectations, acknowledging that hoping for success can also bring the fear of failure, especially when trying to prove something to others.
• 😀 The lesson shared was that growth is possible but must be based on a clear understanding of one’s strengths, limits, and emotional state, rather than societal expectations or personal doubts.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to apply for the job even though they already had a stable position?

The speaker applied for the job because they were curious about the current demands in the job market and wanted to explore opportunities, despite being content in their current role.

What was the emotional trigger that caused the speaker to feel conflicted about their career path?

The emotional trigger was a job post offering a high salary for a junior position, which caused the speaker to feel disheartened because their own salary, despite being in a senior role for over 10 years, was significantly lower.

How did the speaker feel about their growth and opportunities after seeing the job post?

The speaker felt a sense of stagnation in their own career, as the job post made them question their ability to grow and whether they had missed out on opportunities at top companies like Google or Facebook.

What was the speaker's realization after receiving the interview invitation?

The speaker realized that growth and opportunities are still possible, and sometimes the right company will see potential in someone, even if they initially feel their career has plateaued.

What did the speaker learn about the importance of emotional control during the interview preparation process?

The speaker learned that emotional control is crucial, as their stress and fear of failure during preparation were fueled by emotions, and they realized that these emotions might have been clouding their judgment and overall well-being.

How did the speaker’s past failure impact their mindset during the interview preparation?

The speaker's past failure, particularly during a probation period at a previous company, resurfaced, leading to feelings of insecurity and the desire to prove themselves, even though they were already in a stable position.

Why did the speaker feel the need to prove themselves to others, despite already having a successful career?

The speaker felt the need to prove themselves due to a combination of external validation from social media and the pressure to meet high expectations, which sometimes led to unnecessary stress and self-doubt.

What role did personal branding play in the speaker’s experience?

Personal branding played a key role in the speaker's experience, as it helped them stand out to the company that eventually reached out. The speaker realized that by sharing their work and personal journey, they were able to attract attention from the right opportunities.

What message does the speaker want to convey about managing expectations and emotions in the context of career growth?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of managing expectations and emotions, suggesting that while it’s okay to dream and pursue growth, it’s crucial to make decisions based on logic and self-awareness, not solely driven by emotions or external pressure.

How did the speaker’s perspective on failure evolve throughout the experience?

The speaker’s perspective on failure evolved from seeing it as a setback to understanding that sometimes failure is a sign that a particular opportunity may not be the right fit, and growth can still occur in different directions or environments.