Why Are Interviews So Scary?After 10 of those less-than-inspiring “pep talks,” I was ready
to move out of town—and get a job doing just about anything
else exceptcareer counseling! But I didn’t. Somehow their warn-
ings posed a challenge for me. I had broken into other difficult
fields when everyone said it was impossible. I knew I could do
it again.
I immediately started offering free talks to all sorts of orga-
nizations on goal setting, self-esteem, and résumé writing. I
attended some professional seminars and conferences on career
development. I read every single book I could get my hands on
about careers and jobs, and I took some graduate courses in
career development and counseling.
Within 6 months of deciding to become a career counselor, I
had appointments booked for 2 months with a waiting list!
I worked with clients in industries as diverse as publishing,
biotechnology, semiconductors, sales, the arts, entertainment,
telecommunications, medicine, law, computers, defense, Web
design, engineering, hospitality, foods, and even wine making. I
taught workshops and worked individually with people in all
walks of life—students and executives and entry-level employees
and Ph.D.s.
One day, in one of my classes, a woman exclaimed, “You
know, you should write a book!” I liked the idea, mostly because
it represented another challenge and because I realized that
indeed, I could keep teaching job seeking skills to 10 or 20 peo-
ple at a time, or I could reach thousands of people all at once!
I wrote the first chapter of the book you’re reading right now
and submitted it to the top literary agent in San Francisco. I was
sure he would love my idea and see it as an instant success.
Two weeks later, I got a generic rejection letter, without even
a real signature. When I called and asked him about it, the edi-
tor said, “Good title, but who would read it? I’m sorry, we can’t
represent your book.”
I was crushed; but I refused to let the rejection stop me. I
was convinced that I had a valuable message for job seekers, one
with important tools that would ensure their success. After a few
more disappointments from other literary agents, I decided to
take matters into my own hands and publish the book myself.
Sure I went into debt. Sure I was scared. But soon—after I’d
flown all over the country giving Fearless Interviewing seminars,