The "Right Skill Set"

I left my job of four and a half years as a nurse working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  My comfort zone.  It was my second nursing job and got me out of a HORRIBLE first nursing job (in the hospital).  I owe a lot to this job to helping me get back to "me," giving me challenges and joys, and it was wonderful.  However, I felt like it was time to "leave the nest" and I quickly found a job that seemed perfect.  Close to my house, bankers' hours, great benefits.  No on-call.  Whee!!!  A new opportunity.  What could go wrong?

News of a job loss after three months of starting.  As my dad says about everything that he has no answer for, "That's the WAY it is."  I always thought that saying was annoying as hell, but he's right.  That IS the way it is.  He lost his job and it took awhile to find one, so I've been asking him a lot for advice.  I don't remember him "losing it" ONCE.  He kept applying and has a great job now.  I, however, am more neurotic.

I had several interviews at my company.  All of the positions were filled by outside applicants.  Apparently I didn't have the "right skill set" per one of the interviewers, as well as HR. Whatever.  There was nothing wrong with my interviews otherwise (I asked).  They just found someone "better."  So I decided that maybe my company wasn't the place to be.  I applied to eight other jobs.  Interviewed for three.  Rejected!

Outside the company, here we go!

I interviewed with a lady who decided I was confrontational.  Really.  If anything, I am passive aggressive as I am typing this about her.  I drank a bottle of water with one interviewer.  Whoops.  It didn't even dawn on me that was stupid as I was mentally patting myself on the back for not drinking Diet Coke.  Got him over on that one.  One interviewer sprung a phone interview on me.  I had screened the call--and she left me a message to call her back.  She asks me if I have "time to answer a couple of questions" and grilled me.  No wonder I got a rejection letter two days later.  Six interviews?  Seven?  Whatever.  I didn't want to do this anymore because I am not confrontational, I don't like surprises, and I don't like dehydration. 

One of my best friends told me about a temp-to-hire job in her firm at a similar company to the one I work for.  I did not have the "right skill set," per me, and informed the recruiter so I didn't waste her time.  She thought we should try anyway.  I never thought about a temp-to-hire job.  However, what if I got stuck working for a boss who thought I was "confrontational" or someone that got mad at me for drinking water?  What if the company regularly lays off employees?  I don't WANT to work places like that.  It gives us both the opportunity to see if we are the right fit! 

I took the typing and Microsoft Word test, which I promptly screwed up, and left knowing that I "did not get the job."  I fantasized about learning more about Microsoft Word, but decided I did not "give a shit."  I've been trying to work on a coding certificate and thought learning Spanish would be beneficial--but felt overwhelmed, and since I already paid for coding--that's the certificate that won.  It gave me something to do that I felt was beneficial.  I was trying to "improve my skill set" but driving myself insane and discrediting a $50,000+ education.

A little over a week later, I get a call that I had a phone interview with this company.  I told her I was surprised because "I didn't have the right skill set," but was excited anyway!  She laughed and told me about what questions this company might ask.  I have been asked every single question and, besides screwing things up by drinking a bottle of water, I felt I did really well at that interview.  So I practiced and decided to give it my all.  I've been rejected this many times.  Hell, why not again?

The interview went differently.  They called promptly at the time they said they were going to, which I thought was respectful of my time.  It automatically put me in a good mood.  I was also sitting on the couch in my pajamas.  I did my research on the company and found it is big into philanthropy.  They had even donated to Furry Friends, which is where I got my cat Tyler.  It made me feel like they cared about Tyler and his buddies (and I don't know if they donated 50 cents or $500,000, but it doesn't matter).  They also donate to the non-profit where I used to work (mentioned in paragraph one).  Two places near and dear to me.  So, I told the interviewers that (in a nutshell) and that I appreciated that and its views on putting the "customer" first.  I asked how the interviewers got started at the company.  I talked about my experience and how being a "military brat" prepared me for change.  I told a story about a difficult hospital discharge.  I gave the "story of me" and let myself shine.  I forgot, for a half hour that day, that I "didn't have the right skill set."

I got the job.  It's where I wanted to work in the first place.  I have to prove myself as I am not a full employee yet, but I am confident that I can do it.  I am NOT limited by my "skill set."  Funny how the director (my boss' boss) has a very similar "skill set" to mine and saw my experience for what it was.  The moral of the story:  Keep trying.