I’ve worked as a contractor or an employee for 20+ companies. That is to say, I’ve done a lot of interviewing.

Typically, interview questions are safe. Tell me about a time when you…? What would you do if…? Diversity…? Why do you want to…? I get the ‘tell me about yourself’ prompt less and less.

But today, I was asked a pretty cool question. Tell me what you like about your current job and what you don’t like about it?

That was a new one for me. This is one of those questions when a candidate reveals their cards. Does this person complain about not getting enough money? About not having leaders, coworkers, or customers they get along with? About not getting new opportunities? Are they attracted to status and popularity? Are they driven by the work itself?

I didn’t know where to start with what I liked about my current job. I look forward to showing up to work every day. I get to share my passion for writing with community college students, work with intelligent and caring people, and feel like I’m making a difference in the world.

Nevertheless, I said three things (grouping answers in threes is an excellent interview strategy, btw) that I really loved about my job: Networking with professors to recruit students, working with the college students and seeing them develop, and having room to go above and beyond the mission.

As for the dislikes…?

I paused.

I thought about a few little issues that, in the grand scheme of things, were insignificant. When you know what the mission is, those workplace snares seem to unravel themselves.

And I held silence for a few more seconds…

“To be honest,” I said, “The only thing I dislike most about my job is that it’s part-time. I wish I could do it more.”

Both of the interviewers reacted positively to my answer. I thought it was a good response too. Dare I say, it’s the best response I’ve given to an interview question. I heard a bell ring when I said it.

What was unusual about my response was that when I couldn’t find an answer in my mind, I felt it come from my heart. I had not prepared to say anything negative about my current job. I don’t think I could have prepared a better answer.

I tried to fill myself with positive thoughts for the week leading up to this interview. When negative thoughts would come about, I would eventually put them aside.

Also, I prayed a lot, and I asked others to pray too. I prayed in the five minutes before the interview, out loud. I didn’t pray to get the job, though. I think that’s weird. I prayed to be understood, to have the courage to be myself, and to have the grace to demonstrate my best qualities that I believe could serve others. My best is something that I can ask for. I feel uncomfortable asking for results.

I’m not too sure if I got the job. I may find out as early as next week. But this one will go down in the books as one that closed out a significant week. I didn’t put important things on hold for the interview. The only thing I would do differently is double the time I had in the week to do more.

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