Today I had an interview for a job. As a 21 year-old, it might seem like the interview would be an important one, and it honestly is, but not in a “finding my career” kind of way. More of like “trying to stay afloat, brokest I will ever be” kind of way. I am at the point in my life where I am beginning to adult and pay my own bills and be responsible for managing finances, while not having a steady income nor salary to do so.

So, I started applying to local jobs around my campus. Anywhere and everywhere I could think of, and one of those places was a holistic market called Kindred Market. It’s a small store but it has all of the things: groceries, coffee bar, homeopathic medicines, and handmade jewelry from local artists; Like come on…..that is my kind of place. There was just a good vibe in the atmosphere and in the people.

Let me get into this interview that I had….. It made me think about what kind of things should be asked in interviews and what qualities should be looked for in a person.

I was interviewed by one of the hiring managers. He had introduced himself with a big smile and large, square, glasses frames. The first thing he said to me after we go to his office was that he practices sound work and demonstrated his singing bowls; It made me feel so invited. After he thoroughly went through the entire application he asked me a series of questions that I can’t say I have ever typically heard in a job interview.

Things like: what my connection is like with nature, what my core values are and what it means to me, to describe my spiritual life.

We got into everything you could think of, because that is the kind of space he created. One where we can openly converse and truly get to see who and how the other person is. We talked about my relationship with my dad, myself, HISelf, his ex-husband, he read my energy; You name it and we talked about it. I mean this man was such a grounded person, conversation came easy and he was able to see the kind of person I was off of paper.

You know what’s funny?

I answered many of those questions by describing a visual rather than trying to explain what I mean in logical English. It didn’t matter though because everything I was saying was being understood. This little job I applied for in college to just have some extra cash, I am realizing, is having a larger effect on me than I thought; and I haven’t even gotten the job yet! This interview told me a lot about corporate world and what they say they care about in candidates vs. what they actually care about.

The hiring manager cared about who I was as a person, breaking down my fundamentals to see if I would align with everyone else. That is what matters to them. I can be taught and I can learn, I have drive and passion. They want to see my true colors in how I interact with others AND myself; who I am at the core. That is what should matter!