I have always been terrified to get a job. Not because I wouldn't be able to do the job, but because the thought of the interview is terrifying. This is the reason I do not have a permanent job yet.
I put my foot in the door in 2010 when I saw an ad for the 2010 Census. All you had to do was pass a test and you were in. However, you had to call first to find out testing info. I don't know what's worse, a job interview or calling up someone on a phone. I someone made it through the phone call and went and took the test with about 20 others one day. I didn't get a great score and figured I wasn't going to make it, which was fine because doing house-to-house interviews was not my cup of tea. After a couple weeks, I received a phone call saying I got the job. I was very excited but then I heard about training and my nerves kicked right back in.
We had to do a week of training and all I could think of every day was, "I hope we don't have to do any role-playing in front of everyone." Every single day and moment I sat there that's all I could think about. The last half of the last day, we were allowed to go out and tackle some houses if we wanted. I was feeling confident. I had received a couple packs for an area and was ready to go complete them. I found the first house and took some deep breaths and went up to start asking questions. Luckily the person was very friendly and boosted my confidence. Sometimes I would get very nervous and would have to drive around the block a few times and take some deep breaths to collect my thoughts to approach everyone calmly. Mainly because you never know how people will react to you. I am one to freeze up when an unfamiliar situation arises. This was usually when people did not want me there.
For this job, it was a routine, written out dialogue for each house. After some time I was able to reword some questions to sound less robotic. But when I had people that wouldn't cooperate, I was lost and frozen. I only knew the dialogue and giving me a difficult time was not in the dialoge! I couldn't think fast enough to figure out what to say to people telling me 'no' or to come back later. I stumbled over words with them and was just wanting out of the situation rather quickly.
I was later selected for the second phase of the job. It was exciting because only some 300 people out of about a thousand were selected. I can't remember the exact stat. I had to go through training again which didn't seem any different from the first phase, except having a new leader. He wasn't as friendly which heightened my anxiety. But I made it through it!
This was a really good job for me, despite lasting only 4 months, because it forced me to talk to people I didn't know. It was fun and scary at the same time and I know many outgoing people that have said they would never be able to do that! It made me feel really good to fight past my fears.
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