Interview #10

Returned to Ramsey NJ for a second interview today at a medical education agency. Distance: 85 miles. Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes.  Position: step down. Salary: dunno. 

Met with the owners of the company, 3 women.  Jane took the lead in drilling for information and  weaknesses.  She began the discussion by admitting that my background really didn’t seem to fit with their current needs and then invited me to change her mind, like Rachel Maddow, who asks her guests to “please talk me down.”  I wish I thought of that at the time, but perhaps it's best not to make reference to a far-left-leaning host of a political television show who also happens to be an out lesbian until you know your audience a little better.

Instead, I rolled with my newly perfected Barack Obama hand gestures.  I deployed 3:

• The loose fist with pads of pointer finger and  thumb clasped together; it works best as a quiet emphasis-adder and much better than an arrogant finger jab, a la Bill Clinton as he denied having “sexual relations with that woman.”;

•  The fingers together and slightly closed, like you’re gently holding a glass; this is another subdued emphasis-adder;

• The open palm with pushing movement; this is to emphasize extra-important points.

The upshot is they will toss me some freelance work on a big insomnia project to see how well I do. They hope to get more funding to continue the project into ‘09, and if that happens, I think I’m golden. But how to pay the bills until then?

Comments

[.rz]

i've got those hand moves down - when i'm talking to someone, i often catch them looking at my hands instead of looking me in the eye - you can work up a whole ballet of hand moves to keep your conversation partners interested

[em]

Talents. You've got 'em.

[greavsie]

I also add a 'temple of raised fingers joined at the pads'..it evokes studiousness, orderliness and hides a sneeze when raised to the lips.

[em]

ooo, also good to hide a yawn.