How Job Interviews Can Lead to Self-Abandonment
Every job interview I have had left me feeling like I had to prove my worth. Inevitably, they always, as in always, consist of the following nonsense:
The rapid fire questions. (Calm down folx! Geez.)
The age old strengths and weaknesses question. (Is this for real?)
Tell me about yourself. (ummm what? Like since birth?)
Are you a team player? (Not after this interview.)
Where do you see yourself in five years? (stfu. Respectfully.)
People are interviewing because they potentially want to work at that place of employment. Employers will never truly learn about potential employees when putting them on the spot. This way of interacting with people asks candidates to guess at what they think employers want to hear. In essence, they are encouraging folx to be performative, which inherently requires self-abandonment.
Remember: YOU can interview THEM.
Acting like someone you think you should be - based on someone else’s standards - is denying yourself the opportunity to experience Self Belonging.
Being able to vet out employers is a privilege because many folx are desperate for employment. Gauge for safety first, and have your questions ready. Here are some of my favorites to ask potential employers:
How do you demonstrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in your daily practices at [Company Name]?
How did this position come to be vacant? (Podcast guest Kristin Reddick shared this gem!)
How do you sit with difference? (I like to keep this open-ended to see where they go. Watch how they respond. This can be difference in perspectives, identities, cognitive processes, and so much more.)
What is your favorite interview question to ask an interviewer?
On the Pod
Belonging + Perfectionism
In this week’s podcast, I talked with mental health therapist Dr. Tara Sanderson on the harmful myths around perfectionism. To listen to this episode, go to my Linktree and select “podcast.” Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to receive alerts when new episodes drop!