ON PASSION

I was reading an article on Yahoo yesterday about mistakes job-seekers make. Among other things were showing up early, talking about how much you need the money, and probably pooping in the interviewer's coffee mug (I wasn't reading very closely, but I assume that would disqualify a candidate). One other thing the article mentioned was that you should always demonstrate a passion for the field, and not talk about jobs you would rather be doing.

I have interviewed for a lot of jobs, and have failed at the overwhelming majority of them. And I am beginning to think that part of the reason is that I don't demonstrate a passion for the field of higher education. I enjoy working with college students (most of the time), but I don't regularly read articles about the industry. If I got to a conference, it's for social reasons and not for professional development. [Note: when I say "social reasons" I mean to meet some ladies, of course! Heyo!]

So when I am asked where I see myself in five years, I figure I should be honest, and say that my five-year plan changes from time to time. There are times when I can see myself advancing in the field, but there are also times when I see myself pursuing something else in a completely different field (non-profit?). There are days when I wake up and hope to just win the lottery and not worry about work (although I would organize a Foundation and give my money away). There are days when I really feel I should be pursuing something in the entertainment field, as I do truly enjoy that - but the stability of a "real" job is something I can't let go of. But I can't say all of that, because it makes it seem like I don't have a plan, and for whatever reason, interviewers like people with plans for themselves.

I don't want to tell a school I am passionate about their job and not mean it 100% Maybe I start at a new place, and then two months later get a call saying "Hey, we're filming a pilot for a Senior Discount show based on the videos, come work with us." It would certainly be incredibly difficult to pass up that opportunity, and I feel it would kind of be betraying the (new) school to not admit that right off the bat. But by doing so, I come off seeming like I don't want to work with college students - which isn't the case! (most of the time) Balancing honesty and forthrightness with the desire to get a job is tricky, but I'm always going to put honesty first in these situations.

A soon-to-enter-law-school friend of mine wrote in his admissions essay about finding time to do what he loves as a part-time hobby. I agree with that - but didn't know how to phrase it in my past fifty-something interviews with different schools. I think that knowing how to say "I am passionate about entertaining people" or "I am passionate about helping people" can be phrased as "I am passionate about people" during an interview. As long as my interviewers don't ask any follow-up questions, I should be golden. And in this economy, who's got time for follow-up questions?