Thanks but no thanks

So I'm really awful at interviews. When I was interviewing for teaching jobs in Dallas, I got turned down time after time. In fact, the only way I finally got hired was that someone quit two days before school started, and the principal was desperate. She had no choice but to hire me. The problem with me and interviews is that I'm just not good at stating my weaknesses in such a way that they sound like strengths. I'm not one for talking around the question. I could never be a politician. I just say it like it is then hear myself say it like it is then realize that saying it like it is is a really bad way to say it. But by then it's too late. I've already made a fool of myself in front of this person who is by now most definitely not my future boss.

Remember the time I was interviewing with Texas Teaching Fellows and I couldn't think of anything at which I had failed. Here's what I wrote about it at the time:

"As part of the interview process, I gave a five-minute sample lesson, participated in a group discussion, completed two writing samples -- one in English and one in Spanish -- and participated in a one-on-one personal interview, which was conducted in both Spanish and English. I know the lesson went well, and even the Spanish part was fine, but I'm not too sure about the rest. The worst part was the last question in the personal interview.

'When is the last time you failed at something, and how did you deal with that failure?'

My answer:

'Hmm, let's see... The last time I failed at something... Let me think about that... Well, I know I fail at things all the time... It's not that I think I'm perfect or anything, but... well, hmmm... You know, nothing's really coming to mind just right now... Nope, I can't think of a thing... Sorry...'

At least now I have an answer to that question."

And since that interview, I have compiled a half dozen or so more failed interviews. But maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to answer that question using failed interviews as examples, huh? That would just create another failed interview.

Oh, and the whole point of this post is to share that I did not get the job in Costa Rica. So we can also add that to the list. Meh.