Interview of Doom

The new year has come with a new urgency to get a "Grown Up" job and move somewhere that isn't my Mom's house.

Luckily over the Holiday break, a non-profit in New York called me to set up a phone interview - finally, after 50 job applications, someone likes me! The position is a Grants Coordinator position.  Of course, I was extremely nervous going into this because I finally have a lead- BUT I've never had  a professional interview like this before.

So, I did my homework, reading the organization's annual report, thinking up potential questions and answers, jotting down questions as they came to mind.

Some family and friends began to tell me I was over-thinking this. A 30 minute phone interview, they said, would be 80% the employer talking, describing the position, and asking me fluff questions and maybe 20% time for me to ask questions and set up an in-person interview.

Oh, how I wish they were right.


Of course all morning this is all I could think about. I was supposed to call Miss Naismith at 1:30 PM so I was surprised to see her number pop up on my incoming calls at 12:30 - "Can we push the interview back to 2 o'clock?" 


So the day dragged on and on until 2. Then I called.

Things started out innocently enough - she said they thought my resume was a good match for some of the skills they were looking for with this position and she'd love to describe the position to me in more detail.

Phew, I thought, this is just what everyone said to expect. I finished the thought and

AH! TOO SOON! RAPID FIRE!

The next 25 minutes of my life were a blur. Questions. In quick succession. Grilling me in much detail.

I had answers and when I didn't I BSed to the best of my ability.

In college some friends and I started an amazing non-profit (www.tristateforthekids.org) so she obviously wanted to ask me about it..which is fine; I love talking about Tri-STATE!

Again, it started out innocently enough..and then "So what percentage of your overall fundraising total came from the letter writing campaign?" BS. "Percentage from events?" BS. "Percentage from canning solicitation?" BS. "So you have never actually written a grant?"

After that she described the position to me - it isn't even actually grant writing, but more administrative and entering data into databases.


I actually enjoy databases; most people find entering data mundane but I love it - I think its my attention to detail and love for organization. WHAT?!?! DID I JUST SAY THAT?!?

Then she asked me for my salary history and requirements. Really?! In a 30 minute phone interview, you want to talk salary?

SO that was painful, to say the least.

I am not planning on hearing back from them, but hey, next time I have an interview I am going to be ready. With BS statistics that actually add up to 100.