Well well well...

I wasn't going to update until my last essay and exam were out of the way at the end of the week, but hey, What would study be without procrastination? Yesterday I had a job interview for a really good [Policy] position that I thought I had absolutely no chance of getting. To make matters worse, living 800km from Perth meant that I had to have a phone interview. And, my god, was that the worst possible thing that could ever happen to anyone. Public service positions are based on merit based selection, and that is great. But when you are already a bundle of nerves and cannot even SEE the people that are interviewing you, it adds a whole new dimension to the interview experience. So, being the self-loathing, agonised writing-type with absolutely NO idea why I was even being interviewed in the first place, you can imagine how much fun I had... First, I had to talk about community engagement principles, my understanding of domestic violence and the state strategic plan and all that... and I did really well. The boss-man was making jokes and seemed to understand what I was getting at most of the time (which is new for me... it must be a policy-person thing, where there is an unspoken understanding of sleepless nights thinking about political problems!). I made a comment early in the interview that it is hard to know whether I am saying the right thing, oe boring them to death because I can't see their faces. Big Kahuna laughed and said "don't worry, we're all smiling" So, anyway, I was doing really well. Then, I got an EASY question. An EASY question that I just could not answer, despite me having done several interviews in the past and being acutely aware of the position and everything that it involves. ARGH! Here's a little transcript. Interviewer: "So, Téa, knowing that this is a small office whose decisions can impact on a whole state of women, government employees' practice and the community at large, how would this affect the way that you do your work." (silence) (more silence) Me [thinking]: "Shit... potentially 2 million people..." Me [talking]: "I would utilise community engagement principles of course..." Interviewer: "What skills do you believe you could bring to the position, in that context?" (silence) Me: "Good communication skills, good team skills as it is a small policy unit, good understanding of community engagement principles, including having an awareness of cultural diversity, researching and educating myself about these things..." (silence) Me: "Do you want to know specifically how I would communicate?" Interviewer: Yes. Me: "I'm sorry, you know how something just...well..leaves your head? I know this stuff!" Interviewer: "It's ok, I think you've touched on what we need..." And then, we moved onto Q&A time, where I asked if I was shortlisted, because I was surprised I was selected for an interview. He said that I had been shortlisted from a huge number of applicants and that my applciation was really strong. Wowee. Bit of a confidence boost for me, considering the job that this is... So, anyway, now I wait. And I agonise. Apparently I will hear on Monday. Damn them for making me wait all weekend! I don't want to be overly confident, after all, in hindsight I cannot believe the things I forgot to say... but hey... wish me luck. And tell me if you think I got the job. I went to Facade for some Tarot insight and it gave me a really good card, which means excitement, rebirth and challenges. So yeah... anyway, how this ended up so long I have no idea.