A follower on LinkedIn recently wrote to ask me how she could be more calm when being interviewed for jobs. Since this is such a common problem, probably especially for engineers, I thought I’d share my response with you. In reality, there are many things going on that cause interview nerves. If someone comes to …
You tell jokes that are met with stares unless the audience has had classes in multivariate calculus and particle physics
Dilbert is your hero
Prior to buying your girlfriend an engagement ring, you confirm the correct ring size by secretly measuring one of her other rings, with a set of calipers
You’re driving in a small town in Germany and don’t get lost
You still have your original Erector Set in its little red metal suitcase (even if some parts are missing)
You know exactly how many steps there are in a set of stairs you take on a daily basis
Your wife adds “…and give me the short version” to the end of any question about how something works
You like repairing things more than actually using them
You tried to take the fetal monitor apart in between contractions
You can name 6 Star Trek episodes
Anything by Sean Stephenson is great! He always reminds me that I have no excuses. Here is one example.
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.
The best work is not what is most difficult for you…It is what you do best.
Keep the faith. The most amazing things in life tend to happen right at the moment you’re about to give up hope.
Don’t be afraid to take a big step…You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
A little bit of reckless abandon is a good thing.
You can fail at what you DON’T want [to be doing], so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
The glory of God is man fully alive.