"Fake It 'til You Make It" (Or Don't): The Worst Job Interview I've Ever Had

Let's face it, we've all had some pretty terrible job interviews. In my case, I've had a lot. But there was one in particular that I will NEVER forget.

It was in fall 2017, I interviewed for an entry-level Production Coordinator position at a publishing company in NYC that makes tourist guides. I worked really hard to prepare for this interview. To be honest, I didn't necessarily want the job, but I wanted to get the HELL out of retail and the job description didn't seem so bad. I felt like I was pretty capable and qualified for it. I met with a hiring manager, and I thought the interview went pretty well. She didn't ask me anything that was too hard, and I answered the questions in the best way I could. The conversation seemed to flow.

Then, she had me meet with the CEO. That's when things took a left turn. I walked into his office and immediately felt intimidated. He asked me a few questions, which I honestly don't remember. The only question I remember him asking was "What kind of job are you looking for?" (or something like that). Then, I did the STUPIDEST THING I could possibly do. I said, "I want to work in television." THE JOB WAS FOR A PUBLISHING COMPANY, WHAT WAS I THINKING??? So, the CEO said, "To be honest, I think you would be bored at this job." And preceded to ask me questions about applying to jobs in the television/film industry and why I haven't had a job in that field yet and it just pissed me off. I tried to tell him how hard it was to get that kind of job, and even told him how my cousin was in that field and hasn't helped me AT ALL and it's all who you know.

Things got worse from there. He was telling me that since I was only working part-time, I should be making YouTube videos every day to show people that I know how to film/edit videos. Like, WTF? Then, he showed me these videos that some intern at the company made and was saying I should do that. I literally almost cried during the interview. I've never done that in my LIFE. Yes, I shouldn't have said I wanted to work in television when the interview was for publishing, but I hated that he was acting like a know-it-all and telling me what I should do with my life. It's not his business. The interview felt like it lasted forever. I finally got the FUCK out of there, and called my parents on the phone crying. They were pissed that I said the wrong thing, which made me mad. Instead of caring about my feelings and the fact that the CEO was rude to me, they were more worried about the fact that I ruined yet ANOTHER job opportunity. Who cares? Why would I want to work for someone who questions my intentions anyway?

After the interview, I cried many times. I cried on the steps of Bryant Park listening to sad music. I cried in the car. I cried later that day when I got home. I was upset, not because I messed up the interview, but because someone was questioning me so much and I hate that. I never got any email that I did or didn't get the job, which I'm not surprised about. I learned my lesson and every interview after that, when they asked me what industry I wanted to be in, I said whatever industry the job was for. That's what you have to do in this world. You have to be fake or you won't get what you want and hopefully it will all be worth it.