I interviewed a candidate this morning whose parting words were: “I understand that my assertiveness might come off as arrogance, but that’s not the case. It’s a way to show my confidence and my eagerness to learn. I have apologized many times for it, but today, I want to be myself and show you how I show care personally and professionally. Thank you for having me.” A little bit of context: there are 4 stages to my interview process and stage 3 is a group interview that includes live tasks. One of the tasks is a riddle/puzzle. I am usually the scribe for the group and write down their deductions on the whiteboard. The group was stumped. Hannah, got up from her chair and walked up to me and asked for the marker in my hand. After I handed over the marker and stepped aside, she connected the group’s thoughts and solved the riddle. “I might be a slow learner [(even though she holds one of the fastest times in solving the riddle)] and need to write things down myself, but can do it. We did it!,” said Hannah before giving me back the marker and sitting down. I just sent her an offer letter with 4 sentences: “Assertive works for me. When your determination surpasses the patience of others, it will be dubbed as arrogance or stubbornness. That’s also when you decide if you should subdue your stubbornness or pick different peers (not mutually exclusive). Looking forward to being peers.” Hannah is not only a good hire, but a reminder that being oneself is the best way to proceed and solve life’s riddles. This is, of course, if the basics (respect and compassion) are in place. Otherwise, you are simply an asshole 😀 Don’t apologize for being yourself. “Don’t compromise your values for somebody else’s reality” as my roommate would say. Throughout childhood, it was our caregivers that taught us respect and compassion. In adulthood, it is our peers that keeps us in check. I am incredibly lucky to have peers who balance me everyday and remind me how important it is to take feedback well without compromising my values. Because of you all, I self-reflect and am motivated to become the best version of myself everyday. I know I have a lot to learn. Your patience checks my stubbornness; it gives me strength. It's my reality. Thank you. Be you.
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