Welcome back my beautiful people! Today, I want to talk about our voices and how your voice matters.
I'm going to take you back to a situation I dealt with way back in 2020.
I'll start by saying, sometimes we are so quick to shut our mouths, to not speak up, and to let others take away our voice. I am here to tell you that you should never do that. Do not ever let anyone take away your voice, because your voice belongs to you.
Way back in 2020 while living in Nashville, TN, I started an interview process with a very well known company for a full-time job. I am feeling called to share this experience with you all in hopes of helping you navigate your truth while in the midst of searching for jobs.
This interview process was long and grueling, but I needed a job. The job market in 2020 was a tough market to navigate and I tried my hardest at each and every opportunity. The interview process I am about to disclose to you took two months to get through. In the eighth interview of this process (Yes, I said eighth.), I was asked the below question.
“Is your blog written in your voice or is it some kind of persona?”
Me:
Now, let me walk you back a bit and disclose to you how rigorous this interview process was. I’m sure after hearing I was on my eighth interview, you already made a shocked face, looked around your room, and are questioning how anyone could manage to go on
E-I-G-H-T interviews with one company. Well, I am here to say, it is in fact possible and I went through it. Anyway, the first few interviews were all done via phone and zoom video calls. These felt like your typical phone screens, yada yada, tell me more about yourself, blah blah.
After my third interview, it was highly encouraged that I sign up for a free trial with their company and also read up on some of their books and materials. So, I did that.
Throughout the interview process, I read 3 books, took countless lessons through their free trial, and did lots of research. I was, as they say “drinking the juice.”
My sixth and seventh interviews were held on site at the campus. At this point, every person I spoke to was fawning over me and could not wait to have me on the team. The seventh interview was a half day on campus where I interviewed with about 10 different people. A few of the different interviewers inquired about my blog and I openly told them about my mission and goals for Cali Creates LLC. I never once tried to hide my presence on the internet, because I have no shame of what my blog shares with the world. In fact, it was on my resume. After seven interviews and two months, I was hoping that a company would have done their research on me to know if I was a good fit for them as well.
So, cue the final steps in this grueling interview process.
Prior to the eighth interview, I was already scheduled to have a final dinner with the CEO, his wife, and my new boss that night and was expecting a call in the morning to confirm the details. This was the known final step in the process and I had made it! I was so excited. HR had already informed me that they were drawing up my offer and I knew financially what to expect.
There typically was not an eighth interview, so when I was greeted by HR the next morning with a request for an additional Zoom Call Interview, I was a little confused by this.
I had this gut feeling that something had gone wrong. I quickly collected myself and attended what would be my final interview with this company.
The dreaded eighth interview.
Let’s circle back to the question I was asked in this interview.
“Is your blog written in your voice or is it some kind of persona?”
I answered rather quickly without really having to think about it at all, “Yes, my blog is absolutely written in my voice. I am who I am, and most have called my blog the most authentic they've ever read. So, to answer your question, yes, my blog is written in my voice.”
The interviewer paused and then proceeded to push it even further and asked:
“Is there any limit on what you will write about?”
At this point, I’m very unsure of why I am being asked these kind of questions. In my head, I’m thinking “Are you the kind of company who wants to silence me?” I answer fairly quickly again saying, “I write about my life, my stories, and my moments that I believe can help people to find their way in life and to love themselves unconditionally. I typically don’t find myself called to write about certain topics, sure, but that’s because I don’t talk about them in my life.” Again, in my head I’m thinking, but if I want to write about something new, I will.
Them: “So, would you say your main purpose of your blog is to release yourself of certain feelings?”
Me: “Yes. I felt called in my life to share my stories in an effort to help people learn from my mistakes and heartbreaks.”
I’m sure you can guess what happened after my eighth interview.
Their HR Department: “Hi. I’ve been given the unfortunate task to let you know that we are no longer looking to extend an offer for this role and there will be no dinner tonight.”
Me: “Do you have any feedback?”
Their HR Department: “Timing just isn’t right. But that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be something in the future.”
Right. Right. Right.
Still to this day, my takeaway is this: Something about my blog and the honesty behind it scared them.
Regardless of why, I was heartbroken. Let me tell you something. When you spend over two months in an interview process, that rejection burn takes a bit longer to heal.
In truth, I’m not writing this blog to shame the company or anything like that. That's why I'm not disclosing which company it was. On the contrary, I want to thank them for showing me that they are not the type of organization I would want to work for.
Everything seemed perfect and everyone there was smiling, but I wonder if they have a voice or if they have been silenced.
I think that whole experience was the world’s way of showing me exactly what I did not need in my life anymore. When interviewing with a company, always make sure that you are interviewing the company too. I feel blessed to have dodged a bullet with that company.
I learned that I do not need to filter myself. I have a voice. A powerful voice. I use it to help others and I promise you that I will never stop.
Back then, I knew in my heart that one day I would find a company that not only appreciates my voice, but embraces it. Now, instead, I've chosen a career where I work for myself and I get to choose the companies that I want to work with. I love it and my heart was right.
This new career has been incredibly freeing for me.
If you are in the job search currently, my advice to you is this:
Do not let the world try to silence your voice.
Your voice is important.
Your voice is powerful.
Your voice MATTERS.
Your voice is what makes you, YOU.
Do not lose that, because it is your identity.
No matter what is going on in your life, remember that you need to hold onto what makes you... you.
If you feel as if you are being unfairly treated or judged, do not look the other way. Choose you. Another company or career path will be there to welcome you, I'm sure of it.
Until Next Time,
Jessie
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