Page 169 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

There were four chairs with another one in front for me. It felt
completely wrong.
I sat down, felt totally fazed, and immediately said, ‘Excuse
me, can I use the bathroom for a second?’
‘Of course.’

I needed to get out of there, because I knew that if I carried
on I was going to blow the interview anyway. The panel would
see that I was very uncomfortable.

I left the room, went to the bathroom, splashed some cold
water on my face, composed myself mentally, regrouped in my
head. I went straight back in again, and this time I was a totally
di≠erent person, because now I knew what I was walking into.
I had reprogrammed my mind, repositioned myself for the event

I was entering. I was better prepared.
I have talked about trying to introduce a note of humour to
ease the pressure of the interview. If you feel that you have the

ability, the style and the personality, you should be able to find
a moment where you can introduce an element of humour.
That will only work in your favour, not against you, as long as
you don’t turn out to be a comedian and devalue what you are
doing. You can achieve the same e≠ect by bringing a feel-good

factor to the interview.
Somebody came in to pitch to me the other day. He sat
down, and said, ‘By the way, James, I’ve brought you a co≠ee,’

and placed a Starbucks cup on the table – a fantastic ice-
breaker.
I was quite taken aback and asked him, ‘How did you know
what kind of co≠ee I prefer?’

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