Many of you will know that I have been searching for my next employment opportunity – one that will have me leaping out of bed each morning, with anticipation. While I have been searching, I have been so fortunate to have had opportunities come my way to work on some incredible Locum roles, projects and consultancies. Such a variety of experiences. 
 
I continue to apply for roles that inspire me.
 
At an interview a while back, following all the professional and strategic questions that one expects during a job interview, I thought the panel Chair was winding up the process. Instead, they asked to talk about myself and who I was as a person ….. “tell us about the real you that was not presented in your CV”. 
 
After all the personality style evaluations, all the feedback loops, all the professional coaching and mentoring over the years that have told me that I am an extroverted, outgoing, creative, hard-working, practical, accountable (etc.) person, this particular question took me by surprise.
 
I was stumped by it and yes, I faltered with my response.  Firstly, it was asked in a way that was out of context to my usual expectation of an interview. It was not in the usual “professional framework of questions”. Or at least my perception of what that framework is. 
 
Secondly, as I thought the interview was being concluded and the Chair of the panel was about to say “thank you and good bye”, asking such an unexpected question felt  left of centre. On reflection I realized my response was not how I would like to have presented the “real me” story.
 
As time has passed, I have analyzed it over and over in my head and I wondered if it was a skillful maneuver, utilized to determine something about my personality. It was perhaps a strategy that was thought to be able to determine if I was  indeed a suitable person for the role. I will never know. I was not offered the role and yet I knew I met all the selection criteria. 
 
I have now concluded that recruitment and job hunting is a huge iceberg – so much more to who lands the job than what you see/present on the surface.
 
How would you talk about yourself and present a profile in less than one minute, that will leave a lasting and positive impression?

DC

There seems to be a pattern with my posts on my blogs. They are irregular – random and erratically timed. Some of my fave blogs that I read regularly are like clockwork. One of the features of those blogs is there constant presence in my daily routine – I know that once a fortnight or 3 times a week or a regular monthly update is how I remain “connected” to those folks/blogs. I admire their commitment, regularity and constant presence.

It is not as if I have nothing to say or write about. There has been plenty.  But to be honest over the last few months, I have been in a darker space the usual and most things I have written about have been dark, angry or just stressed. I need to do some edits!

I have just had the joy of a short holiday that had been planned for a long time and it has certainly afforded some much needed re-vitalisation. I am thinking that I may be back in a better space and have been re-energised. Still have a lot to say about what has been going on in the world, but maybe not quite as angry about it. And yes, the PCH kitchen is buzzing again.

After a Greek island get away laying in the sun, these minus 2 mornings back here at PCH are a definite contrast …. But that is what life is about isn’t it – the variety of the seasons.

#allyouneedislove

DC