Thanks for this insightful article, Megan. When I was interviewing for entry-level jobs as a fresh business school graduate in my 20s, I also discovered that my alleged "inexperience" didn't hinder or help me as much as the interviewer's personal perception of me.
My personality type preference is INFP, but people who don't know me well (and who judge based on appearances only) usually believe (and insist) that I'm an extrovert, especially on job interviews!
One of my favorite bosses asked me a unique question on the interview: "What's the biggest misconception that people have about you?" After thinking about it for a few seconds (because I had already been pondering this phenomenon for months after I left a stressful sales job in a hotel), my response was, "I come off as a bubbly extrovert, but I'd rather be doing my work in the corner somewhere away from the crowd."
Not only did he enthusiastically hire me and defend me against critics but he sat me right next to his office...which is far away from the main foot traffic path and he's rarely in his office! He was a level below the CEO in a large, successful tech company that highly values intuition. I was wearing a charm necklace with "intuition" written on one of the charms.
The marketing coordinator job itself was a perfect fit for me. Most of my behind-the-scenes work required solitude and social interaction by phone or internet, which are excellent buffers. I've had many jobs since then, including way-out-of-my-comfort-zone positions, such as community outreach team leader, operations manager (retail), youth camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, evangelist, prophet. Now I am regularly assigned to educate ministry leaders about how introversion works, how to welcome and integrate introverts into an extroverted church culture, how to develop and inspire introverts to serve more effectively, etc.
Looking back, each of my jobs was a stepping stone for what God had planned for me next in my journey with Him. I've learned that He uses people's biases (including our own) to steer us into the positions that He has created for us before we were even born! And it all started with me just knowing that I have a strong desire to strategically promote what I believe will benefit people the most.
JESUS: "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” (John 7:24 NLT)
Proverbs 16:9 NLT
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:7 NLT
When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
1 Timothy 4:11-12 NLT
Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
2 Timothy 1:5-7 NLT
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Jeremiah 1:4-12 NLT
The Lord gave me this message:
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
Jeremiah 10:23 NLT
I know, Lord , that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Jara (not verified)says...
Thanks for this insightful article, Megan. When I was interviewing for entry-level jobs as a fresh business school graduate in my 20s, I also discovered that my alleged "inexperience" didn't hinder or help me as much as the interviewer's personal perception of me.
My personality type preference is INFP, but people who don't know me well (and who judge based on appearances only) usually believe (and insist) that I'm an extrovert, especially on job interviews!
One of my favorite bosses asked me a unique question on the interview: "What's the biggest misconception that people have about you?" After thinking about it for a few seconds (because I had already been pondering this phenomenon for months after I left a stressful sales job in a hotel), my response was, "I come off as a bubbly extrovert, but I'd rather be doing my work in the corner somewhere away from the crowd."
Not only did he enthusiastically hire me and defend me against critics but he sat me right next to his office...which is far away from the main foot traffic path and he's rarely in his office! He was a level below the CEO in a large, successful tech company that highly values intuition. I was wearing a charm necklace with "intuition" written on one of the charms.
The marketing coordinator job itself was a perfect fit for me. Most of my behind-the-scenes work required solitude and social interaction by phone or internet, which are excellent buffers. I've had many jobs since then, including way-out-of-my-comfort-zone positions, such as community outreach team leader, operations manager (retail), youth camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, evangelist, prophet. Now I am regularly assigned to educate ministry leaders about how introversion works, how to welcome and integrate introverts into an extroverted church culture, how to develop and inspire introverts to serve more effectively, etc.
Looking back, each of my jobs was a stepping stone for what God had planned for me next in my journey with Him. I've learned that He uses people's biases (including our own) to steer us into the positions that He has created for us before we were even born! And it all started with me just knowing that I have a strong desire to strategically promote what I believe will benefit people the most.
JESUS: "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” (John 7:24 NLT)
Proverbs 16:9 NLT
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:7 NLT
When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
1 Timothy 4:11-12 NLT
Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
2 Timothy 1:5-7 NLT
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Jeremiah 1:4-12 NLT
The Lord gave me this message:
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
Jeremiah 10:23 NLT
I know, Lord , that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."