Performance Anxiety

Last week I had an interview. I submitted my resume about two weeks earlier for this job and was quite surprised when I received a call from one of their recruiters. My initial surprise wasn't at having this particular company call me (although that was pretty cool), but the fact that I received a call at all. It feels as if I've been averaging one call for every 25-30 resumes I submit, and those calls don't always lead to an interview.

So the recruiter rattles off the details of the when and where, how the day will go, etc. Unfortunately, the part of our discussion that I choose to focus on is not what time I need to be there and who I will be meeting with but that the interview will be casual dress. I'm sorry, what? A casual interview? What does that mean? I know the company has a casual dress code but this is an interview. You can't dress casually for an interview, even if the company dress code is casual. You'll look like you don't care enough to dress up for an interview if you are casual. And what exactly is their definition of casual? Khaki's and a button down? A pantsuit instead of a skirt suit? Definitely not jeans, although I'm sure people there do wear jeans to work on a daily basis. I wanted to show them that I was serious about the job and the interview, but I also wanted to show them some of my personality, maybe a pop of color or a cute bag or something. Normally the dress code for an interview wouldn't have put me into such a tail spin - you dress up for interviews and play it straight. However, because of this particular company, I really wanted to do well, show that I am a team player, and that I fit in with their culture. Apparently, all of my senses seemed to have left me at the exact same moment. After debating for about 15 minutes (no lie) what exactly "casual" means to them, I sent an email off to my outplacement contact to see if she had any advice. Of course this didn't rattle her one bit, she's a professional. She suggested I wear a pantsuit because it can be dressed up or down with jewelry and shoes. She suggested flats, simple jewelry, and a shell that's not too fancy. Okay, I thought. I can do this. I took a deep breath and picked out the perfect interview outfit...in my head.

Fast forward to the day before the interview. I try on the outfit I had planned on but something's not right. What the heck? The jacket's too tight? How can that be? I know I haven't worn work clothes for the last three months but come on. Then I remembered by new obsession...Pumpkin Spice Frappachinos! Damn you, Starbucks and your seasonal favorites! And your friendly baristas who ask with a smile, "Would you like to upgrade to a Venti for only 50 cents more?" Of course I would because who wouldn't want twice as much pumpkin spicy goodness for only 50 cents more? Oh, and I'd like it light (to cut down on the calories, you know) but could you add a little dollop of whipped cream on top? Seriously? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of light? UGH! So once again I'm in a panic that I don't have anything to wear to this interview that is tomorrow. I have to go shopping. But I'm unemployed so I can't go crazy and spend a lot of money on a whole new suit. Although, if I get this job, the money spent on the new outfit for the interview will have been perfectly well spent and justified, right? I decide that in order to save money, I will just buy a jacket to go with the black pants that I already own.

So I head out with what I feel is a perfectly clear-cut mission: buy a jacket in black or some similarly subtle pattern (like Houndstooth) that will go with black pants. No problem. Except that when I get to the store, there are way more choices jumping out at me than I expect and I feel completely ambushed. After a frantic call to my girlfriend ("I thought you had your outfit picked out last week?" Can we please focus here?), I am back on track. I decide on a light grey suit jacket that fits perfectly and will look great with my black pants (not to mention my red hair). I notice that it comes with a skirt and think that in the event that I completely wow them and they want me back to meet with others in the company, I better get the skirt, too. So now, contrary to my original thinking, I have a new suit.

The next morning as I'm getting ready for my big day (at an ungodly hour, I might add), I am pleased with my outfit choice and think that all of yesterday's drama was probably unnecessary (just ask my bff). I look professional, confident, and ready to wow them. The interview goes well and I leave there with a good feeling. See, I should have gone with my initial instinct in the first place. Live and learn.

So how did everything turn out? Check out my previous post.