Faking the Funk

Today I had a job interview. In my opinion I would say that it went well (Thank God, because I definitely need the job!) However it truly got me to thinking about the interview process and the institution of the work place. This interview was not for corporate america but rather for a program dealing with underprivileged youth. Professionalism is something that I value but I think that most places expect a little too much from potential employees. The point of an interview is to get to know the person and see if they will be the best fit for the position. However an interview, in the traditional sense, is not conducive for finding out much about a person. It is very clearly the second cousin of our education system. The only way to succeed is to regurgitate the appropriate answers. We have been taught to tell them what they want to hear, useing your most polite and professional voice. Be sure to cover up any and all tattoos and piercings and curb things to make yourself appear like the most brilliant, talented and upstanding citizen there is. Professionalism is a necessity but at what cost? Should professionalism overshadow your personality? It leaves a lot of people at a disadvantage because they are quickly judged by their nature and lifestyle choices. Does that take away from their ability to do the job at hand? Are they truly less qualified because they get nervous in front of a new group or because they chose to have their deceased grandmothers name tattooed on their arm?

It also makes me wonder if these companies are truly looking out for the best interest of thier businesses. Although I never lie in an interview, I do know how to skew the truth, stretch and mold it until it fits perfectly in the answer box. After walking away from the interview I always feel that I have impressed them but do they really know me? Are they truly aware of my considerate nature or my no-nonsense attitude? Can they see that I will have bad days and will probably make mistakes because I did not ask the right questions? Is it fair to them that I know how to cover my flaws well? Or does it simply hurt me more in the long-run, when I fall short of the things that I promised them in my hour-long puppet show? I don't like that feeling. Of course I want the job but I don't want to have to be that person that I showed in the interview everyday because to be honest it is not really me.

I have been on both sides of this process. I try to look past the bull into what people really are. It always puts me off when I can't see somebody's real self. I often look at some of the people who have hired me and wondered how long ago is was when they sat in my seat and fed bs to the "important people" across the table. As I think about it, this phenomenon stems back, loosely to civil obedience. The reason people like to hear the mundane script they once read themselves is because it shows ability to follow, not lead. It is much too intimidating to meet somebody who is going to challenge the status quo. A standard interview question is, Are you a leader or a follower? translation? will you be able to lead everybody else while following me blindly?

There really is no solution. The corporate world is not going to change, they are going to continue to judge people harshly and unjustly. We as prospective employees are going to continue to do the horse and pony show. It's the only way to gain all the shallow things that we don't need but that we want. An endless merry-go-round. Maybe one day I'll pick a new ride, until then I'll be the caramel colored pony on the round about, silently waiting for the right time to spring free.