Failure
Let’s talk about failure. It sucks. Sometimes you just really want that win and you don’t get it. There’s one thing you have to remember and it’s something my Dad says to me, “it only takes one”.
There’s nothing truer than that. So, the past two weeks I was going through an interview process for a really cool job. Full disclosure; it wasn’t for game audio. It was for something else I believe I have strong skills in, Project management. The reason I was going for this is? It would be an opportunity to really push myself and allow me to learn skills I could transfer over to game audio. Not to mention the environment would be much more suited than my current job. I’m never going to stop pursuing game audio, this would have just been another step along the way.
The Application
I went through the usual process, saw a job posting online and thought it looks really interesting so I applied. Before I knew it, I got a reply asking me to take a personality test. Which Immediately did. Then after more good news, the phone interview.
I prepared for this phone interview so, so much. I needed this job to work out. The phone interview started off really well, then I felt like I made some stumbles in explaining myself and my project management skills. I, however, had hoped I’d get through to the next stage, I really feel like I interview much better in person. Over the phone sometimes nerves can get the better of me, especially when I feel the pressure of really wanting this job to work out.
The Morning Of.
I open my emails and see I have a reply. I open the email. It’s the dread “thank you, but no”.
It was like a gut punch. I got ready and headed out to a coffee shop in central London. here I am, writing this very blog post. Failure sucks, but you have to work hard to reframe what failure is.
Failure is the best lesson you can ever have. I know where I went wrong in that interview. I need to work on my weaknesses. it’s the only way to improve. Remembering that “it only takes one” is the key. This didn’t work out, but maybe the next one will?
So with that, I’m going to work on my weaknesses and turn them into strengths. I’m not giving up and applying for these jobs or on game audio. Whatever your dream job is, you shouldn’t give up either. Embrace failure, it’s your friend.
Feedback
This is the best thing about failure in an interview context, you can ask for feedback. Whenever I apply for something and fail I always send them an email asking politely for feedback. Now understand, they will not all apply. I’ve sent a lot of emails asking for this and hardly ever got a reply. In this case, I got one.
I failed exactly at the point I thought I did, elaborating on past projects that I’d worked on and not structuring my answers properly. This is something I do actually try and work on. In this case, nerves got the better of me. Sometimes I find it hard with certain subjects to verbally structure answers in a way that properly conveys the important information accurately.
now that being said, am I going to make a huge effort to correct this going forward? HELL YES I AM. I know exactly how to fix it too, but I’ll save that for another time.
While you are here, if someone actually gives you feedback, THANK THEM. Read that again. They took the time that most don’t and gave you a helping hand. Don’t argue back, Don’t get mad. Thank them, take the feedback and work on improving for next time.
Inspiration
So, I wanted to end this post with a quote from Thomas Edison on failure. But I found so many good quotes from him about failure, I’m going to finish with a few of them, as well as one from another person.
“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” Thomas Edison
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas Edison
“There’s a way to do it better. Find it.” Thomas Edison
“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Thomas Edison
“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.” Thomas Edison
“It only takes one” My Dad
