Interview with a Mathematician

I just had a job interview in my office for a new position. It would be a promotion. We all work from home now (it's a long story), so met over MS Teams. There was a panel of people I knew, and one I did not know well.

I was able to answer most questions by just being myself, taking about what I know, and what I had done. Yet some questions were designed to see how I work, and deal with people, to test my personality. So I had to be more creative. A few were about things I had not worked on before. I said I could learn, and do it all the time. But I confessed I was nervous about it.

I was fairly relaxed and honest, even about my weaknesses. Yet my boss was on the panel, and vouched for me, since I often sell myself short. Toward the end I got tired (it was a 9 am interview and I rose at 6!). But one of the interviewers eyes nodded as I babbled, so I guess it was mutual, LOL!

I hope I get the job. I will work on more things, learn new things, and get paid more. And the more I earn at the end of my career, the larger my pension! I have 9 more years until freedom!

To celebrate, I am eating a massive burrito!

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Rutterman · 46-50, M

Congratulations on getting the interview and best of luck in getting hired for the position.

Eating a massive burrito sounds like a great way to celebrate.

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@Rutterman

Maybe I should have had a bowl of Lucky Charms, instead! 🍀

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence Lol. Nah. Lucky Charms cereal is nasty. Much better to celebrate with a big-ass burrito.

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@Rutterman

I love Lucky Charms!

What I am more worried about though, is something that happened today. I am going to a conference next week. My boss is on vacation now. His boss asked me today if I would present a colleague's talk at the conference. For some reason they could not get funding for either of them to attend (he did not say why). But I could substitute.

I was taken aback. I would only have two days to prepare. I have no clue about the topic. I do not know the author much. And I am very busy. I should not even be going to the conference, I should be working, but the conference was all paid for long ago and I need it to meet my training requirement.

So I said some of this and said I really did not want to do it and eventually he backed off and said do not worry about it.

The bad part about all this is he is the person who would be hiring me, and who I would be working with, if I got the new job. So perhaps I should have said yes. But public speaking terrifies me. I need a lot of preparation. And I did not want to just read a script. I like to know the topic inside and out. And rehearse.

Also, I just got so pissed after that he would wait until the last minute to ask. Do I really want to work for this guy? I almost thought of withdrawing my application. Of course he would still be my boss' boss for perhaps the rest of my career. So awkward.

I am just going to let it go, and if they want me, they want me. I will deal with things later. I just hope this sort of thing is not a habit with him. Of course maybe he just thought it was no big deal. He does not realize I sometimes suffer from crippling social anxiety. Even though I got out of having to do it, it has ruined my day and I cannot seem to calm down.

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence You handled the situation as best you could. Letting it go sounds like a wise thing to do at this point. I hope it's all sitting better with you today.

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@Rutterman

It has been mixed.

This morning I got the job!

This evening a raging thunderstorm knocked out my power.

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence Hey, congratulations! Eat a bowl of Lucky Charms and celebrate! 😄 🥳

Sorry about the power outage. Hope it comes back on soon.

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@Rutterman

I have none at home.

But I am out right now eating pizza, since I cannot cook diner with no power.