My First Interview - 4/12/19

I was escorted into a small conference room with a massive 11” x 17” hardback leather portfolio tucked into my side. A small conference table sat close to the far wall. Sitting at this conference table were two scruffy looking art directors watching me as I walked in. As I walked about halfway into the room, a third art director walked in, a foot behind me. It was a classic ambush interview.

Knowing I was being observed from front and back, I walked towards the table with the best smile and posture I could muster as I scrambled to pick out the most appropriate seat to sit in.

“We thought you were gonna wear your wig!” the art director behind me said with a smile.

My head tilted as I wondered what he was referring to. I had never met the man. What wig?

My face turned red as I came to realize that he was referring to my MySpace profile pic at the time (long long time ago), which had me seated and posed in a black wig holding a Guitar Hero guitar like an Asian Jimi Hendrix. A friend who had recommended me the job must have let the photo leak :\

“Ooooh! Hahahah…”

Fuck, I didn’t know if I was screwed or saved. Rule: if they are laughing, I am laughing.

After a few quick jokes about taking shots of Jack to calm my nerves, some sarcastic answers about where I saw myself in five years, and how they encourage employee loyalty (the answer was drinking), I was offered the job. My portfolio sat on the table, unopened.

I often look back at how that interview and that company changed the course of my life. As I got to know them over the years, it was the joking around (and drinking) that really brought most of us together, which mattered during those late night crunch hours.

This week, I conducted two in-person interviews for a new startup company that I am a co-founder of. I ran the entire hiring process from researching where to find candidates, and recruiting, to rejecting and scheduling. What the heck did I know? I was a concept artist and designer. What do I know about hiring programmers, engineers, and tech artists? This was new territory for me, but I was eager to do it. It became important to me to show these candidates that we were looking not for employees, but new members of a tribe, a squad, and a family. That we cared. Even if it turned out to be a rejection not a good fit. To me, that meant constant communication, respect, and balancing being a professional and being human. I just thought of how I wanted to be treated during this whole process.

For the first time in my life, I get to help pick and coach team.

There is a way to do it and a way not to. Most companies just chose not to. Why bother telling them they’re rejected if they’re rejected? “Cuz fuck ‘em, that’s why!” seems to be the common motto. Insert default rejection message. It's easier.

Having now been on the other side, I realize an interview is the same as any other relationship one is trying to build. Authenticity. Rapport. Personality.

The fit must go both ways.

Whether you are the interviewer or interviewee, if the people don’t match up with your values, it is only a matter of time before the friction creates resentment. Resentment creates misery.

It doesn’t matter they have free snacks or if it’s a Fortune 500 company.

I often look back at that first company and how we were made to feel like a family. It wasn’t always perfect or polite, but our president, Joel, was always brutally fucking honest. I appreciated the non-corporate bullshit that is rarely heard these days. The company's values were based off of his values. It’s an example that I cannot fully duplicate, but with an opportunity to be involved in the early growth of a company, I will take what I remember and carry it on.

Surround yourself with people you enjoy at every opportunity. "Hire" those around you that make you happy. Let go those that don't.

Don't wait.

Fuck.

Yeah.

Friday!

Yes, this is real.