This is a story from 2005. I was fresh out of college and was looking for an entry-level job in a BPO (call center). The interview process was simple. All they were looking for was for one skill. Can the applicant speak in grammatically correct English without fumbling or stuttering? I could.
The interview process was a sham. The interviewer couldn’t openly say that that’s all they wanted to check. And, there’s only so many questions you can ask which make sense before you have to start getting creative. I gave about 12 interviews in a 4 day period. I was just enjoying the interviews so much, I just kept attending more and more.
In all these interviews, the most memorable question I have been asked is “Tell me something unique about yourself.”
Not because the question is special. But because of how I responded. I was feeling lucky. I replied, “Hmmm. Something unique about me. Well… Ask me about any topic and I’ll tell you something about it you don’t know!”
Now, that can be the end of the interview if the guy on the other side of the table has had enough for the day. It wasn’t one of those days. The guy kinda laughed a bit but took up the challenge.
He asked, “Can you tell me about the colour Blue?”
To which I replied, “#0000FF.”
It made no sense to him, and he asked me to explain. I explained. I won’t explain here. You either already know what I mean, or you can easily google 0000FF and you’ll know.
I got the job. I joined. I spent about 3 months at the job. One fine midnight in the graveyard shift as I was taking calls, I felt a tap on my shoulder. The HR manager was in our bay. He asked me when my break was, and told me to join him in his office. I was a bit worried although there was nothing really to worry about. I reached his office after about 20 mins and he’s awaiting me.
“So… You are the smart-ass kid who pulled that stunt in the interview? Ask me about any topic and I’ll tell you something about it you don’t know. We had a good laugh about you in a team debrief. I’ll tell you what. I want to take you up on that challenge,” he said.
Anyone in their right mind would have been more worried now. I was in my right mind. I replied, “Sir, I am sorry. I hope you understand I was just out of college and didn’t know much how these things work. Now I know better, and I am smarter than I was 3 months ago.”
“OK,” he said. “Go on.”
Something came upon me. I said, “Now, you can ask me about any topic and I’ll tell you two things about it you don’t know”
I’ve been told later that our laughter was heard all across the floor. In the months that followed, we became great friends even though we were separated by 4 levels of hierarchy.
It would have been easy to really apologize or fumble around until I was out of the office. There’s a thin line that separates self-confidence and overconfidence. When you feel you are crossing over that line, use a bit of humour to temper it.
Do not lose your true nature just because you are surrounded by people who have achieved a lot more that you have. Managers, clients, “elders” – if they don’t appreciate you for who you are, maybe you should not be working with them.
Self-confidence and humour can help you achieve much bigger targets than you thought possible. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Tell me of a time when you crossed a line and it worked out well. Also, a time when it didn’t work out but you now know what you should have done differently.
Your know-it-all,
Abhilash Purohit