So I’m watching the Oscars right now. Not very interesting on a number of levels, mainly because I haven’t seen the nominated movies. Yeah, yeah, I know – what do I do with my spare time?
The whole Oscar thing reminds me of interviewing. First, how many times have some of these actors been nominated, yet they’ve never gone home with a trophy? In interviewing terms, I’ve been nominated dozens of times in the past months. No golden statue for me either.
When the nomination does finally come in, then what? I’m sure the actors get excited and nervous. Then they start thinking about what to wear (especially the women). And hopefully they prepare an acceptance speech, just in case.
Unfortunately, some of the actors I’m seeing tonight haven’t practiced their acceptance speech. How could they come to such an important event so unprepared? Were they beaten down by past experiences, where they were nominated yet went home without the prize?
I sort of understand where they’re coming from. If you’re like me, a person in career transition, you’ve gone on multiple interviews only to never hear from the company again. And how many of us have accepted an interview even though we’re not certain it’s the right job? I’ll admit that I’ve done it. In those instances I have to pull out all the stops, put my game face on, memorize my lines, and remember to thank those who gave me the opportunity.
Because going in to an interview is kind of like the Oscars: in order to get the job, we have to put on an academy-award winning performance. In order to get the trophy, we have to be prepared.
Easier said than done, at least for me. I have to focus all my energy on the interview, review my notes, and not worry about whether I’ll receive an offer. I have to forget all those other interviews where I came home without the trophy – this time, I could actually win. My passion and personal character need to shine through the academy-award winning performance so the interviewer can see the ‘real’ me. The acceptance speech can come later.
My hunch is that the best acceptance speeches are those in which the actor has reviewed their notes, and prepared at least an outline even though they aren’t sure they’re going to win. Then they can deliver yet another academy-award winning performance, just like the one that got them nominated in the first place.
The show is about half-way through and I still think this particular Oscar show is boring. But it has reminded me to review my notes, practice my lines and get ready for my close-up.
Who knows? Maybe this time – the umpteenth time I’ve been nominated – I’ll be asked to give an acceptance speech. And I want to be ready.
Like Tami, I was terminated once (By my best friend, BTW – he is now on the board of the agency I lead, so I got him back – ha!), but you don’t have to be unemployed to learn something from this book. 
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