The interviewing process is whack.
I remember when I was applying to college. Most colleges requested a specific essay question, wanted to know why I’m a fit at their school, and why I chose the major I was applying for.
I was working on an application to the University of Kentucky (I’m still not sure why) and one question was “How will you add to the diversity of UK?” I’m a white boy from Maine, there were only a handful of non-white students in my small-town, and I’d never been around diversity. I said screw it and didn’t apply.
The interview process is very similar to college applications. A lot of questions about my background, why I’d be a good fit at their company, and questions about my past. I understand the hiring manager wants to check all the boxes and make sure I have a solid background (which I do) but their problem is asking questions.
An ideal interview
My ideal interview would be having a hiring manager put accounting data in front of me, creating a spreadsheet, and providing an answer to relevant accounting questions. Or something along those lines. I am confident in my capabilities. Whatever needs to get done, I will find a way.
My ideal interview is far from the current interview process. Instead it’s jumping through hoops and making sure to please the interviewer.
The apprenticeship approach
I’ve spoken with Derek Magill about putting together a value creation pitch for a future employer. Spend some time researching the company, put together an email outlining two things that you can improve for them, and offer your services for free.
This is the closest thing I’ve found to my ideal interview. I get to prove I can do the work. The employer gets their work done for free. And if they like my work then they know exactly what they’re hiring. It’s a win-win-win.
My interview takeaways
I have gotten very good at pitching myself. I know how to answer questions, research a company so I sound knowledgeable about what they’re doing, and ask relevant questions so they know I’ve done my background check on them. My problem is that every job I apply for isn’t my ideal. Most of it is day-to-day accounting, which I’m very capable at doing, but very little thought on innovation and how to improve processes.
Interviewing for so many jobs, at companies across the board (startup, high growth, small business) and across many industries (cyber-security, marketing, SaaS, etc), has taught me something extremely valuable. My ideal job doesn’t exist. To use a college metaphor, there’s no major that contains all my interests. Actually, my major doesn’t even exist yet.
Next steps
My next steps are to stop mindlessly applying/interviewing for jobs that I know won’t fit my future goals. Instead I am being proactive about finding a company I want to make an impact on. And taking a page out of the apprenticeship approach, offering my services for free.
I have also realized my long-term vision for the world of accounting, and the decentralized future of the economy, isn’t being addressed by current businesses. By interviewing I’ve realized my job doesn’t yet exist. Which means only one thing, I must create my own job.