Playin' the Game

"Thank you for your interest..."

This is how most rejection letters start off from jobs that I've applied to. I just received another one last week.

Interestingly, I have no idea why I was not offered the position. I've successfully done the EXACT same job before at another company. The competitor to the company that I was interviewing for.

So there's no way that the reason was due to lack of qualifications because I surely have those.

What could the reason(s) have been?

It was a four person panel interview which I wasn't expecting, but handled well. I answered every question thoroughly that was asked of me.

The only thing I can think of as to where I may have gone wrong was when they asked, "What is your dream job?"

Well...I made the "mistake" of answering that one honestly, and my dream job had NOTHING to do with the job I was applying for.

You see, the job I was interviewing for was another "cubicle" position. And at the end of the day, not a single person's life would have been changed or positively impacted. That is NOT what I wanted, but hey...I've got bills to pay and a family to take care of, so I put my best foot forward.

I told them that my "dream job" was in the non-profit arena, helping others and positively impacting lives.

They all nodded and smiled, but I guess they put 2 and 2 together and realized that THIS was not THAT.

So...what's the lesson to be learned here? Do I lie the next time I'm asked the "dream job" question. Do I make it all pretty and flowery and have the interviewers think that the job I'm interviewing for IS my dream job???

My prayer is that my next interview IS in the non-profit arena so that when they ask me that question, I CAN answer honestly, and be confident and comfortable with my response. And I greatly look forward to the day when I can finally utter those 4 satisfying words:

I LOVE MY JOB

Whatever the reason for not being selected for this particular job, or for any of the others that I've interviewed for, I still stand on Psalm 34:1, and will continue to "bless the Lord at ALL times". When I'm rejected for a job, and when I finally get one.

After all, God knows the desires of my heart (He gave them to me), so He knows what I want when it comes to a CAREER. He knows that these positions I've interviewed for didn't match the passion that He's placed in me to help and serve others. So...I can honestly say that it is well with my soul. Really, it is.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What would YOU do if you were interviewing for a job that ISN'T your "dream job", and they ask you the "dream job" question?

Talk to me!!!

Til next time...