I was just invited to interview for the global vice president of marketing position.  The company specifies fierce collaboration, so it may be a combative culture, and it doesn’t specify job perks, which is unusual.  But the learning curve is enormous, as I’d manage 10,000 accounts, which excites me! I want to be permanent with the company for at least four years or as long as possible.  My goal is to grow it big time.  So, set goals and write them down regularly.  They explode and make us wonder, “What …  just happened?”

I’ve got ten months to go to find a career.  I don’t have a backup plan other than to keep trying.  We must rapidly learn from our mistakes, constantly rehearsing and practicing, finding coaches and resources to get us to the top rung; we truly can’t miss a beat during the interviews.  So, we’ve got to strategize for interviews smartly.

For one, don’t indicate our disabilities on job applications; instead, find ways to hide them when interviewing.  That’s because employers are not celebrating DEI, from my experience, especially when it comes to disabilities.  I learned that we’ve got to get every step perfect in these interviews, as even the slightest “perceived” limitation may mean the job goes to a less qualified person who “played the game.” Once we get hired, we have liberties to reveal our disabilities, although I plan to keep mine silent.  So, if we think we can’t reach the top with a visible or invisible disability, or any other circumstances, guess again.  We have the power sourced in unconditional love, strategic interviewing, and hard work.

As advice, if I were in a wheelchair, I’d do upper body weightlifting every second day.  I’d learn my body type and seasonal color palette and buy professional clothes from Banana Republic (or elsewhere) when they go on sale.  I’d get at least one degree, ideally two: an undergrad and an MBA or project management certificate.  I’d learn skills from LinkedIn Learning and apply for remote jobs.  And wherever possible, don’t reveal any disabilities or limitations during the hiring process.

I just received word that I didn’t get invited to the third round of interviews for one marketing director role, but I may be invited to the third round of another.  But I just found out that I got knocked out of the box for that one, too.  And I know where I went wrong for both.  First and foremost, we must focus on executive and director leadership skills.  I also need to demonstrate my ability to come into the organization and, independently of the CEO, immediately bust and move without direction.  Instead, during the interview, I focused on my content creation skills—the skills required of people I’d manage but not required of a leader.  So, I am buying Huru.ai, an AI app that gives us AI feedback on our video-recorded answers to interview questions.

I just tried video recording myself through the Huru app, answering five questions they typically ask Marketing Managers, and I got feedback.  The free trial said two answers were exceptional, and one needed work.  The app gave insight into what I needed to improve, such as adding a story and avoiding replying with hypothetical actions I “should have” taken.  I bought the full version of the Huru app, but it doesn’t work correctly.  The free trial worked, though.  Consider experimenting with various job interview prep apps before committing to a purchase.

I also discovered, from my marketing certificate courses, that I have a passion for making video screen captures reviewing AI software, especially ones with free trials.  So, I’m going to make these video screen captures regularly.  It’s so much fun.  I may increase my odds of landing a CMO or Director of Marketing role with a university, as my screen captures have an educational component.  It’s too much fun, though, as I could make these video screen captures 24/7 and always stay energized.  Our passions can tell us what industry or career role holds magnificent opportunity, as can a personality/career test.  Know our passions as they indicate where we’d most readily excel.

We are all capable of landing any top gun career role.  No exceptions.  We could be in the worst circumstances in life and reach the stars in less than a year.  It just takes hard work and constant learning, so take classes nonstop, even while working a full-time career.  Take courses until we’re 110 years old.  Did I say 110? Try 1110, or better still, infinity, because we are eternal beings, so learn it all now while the moment is hot.  And then make our mark in whatever career we aspire to master.  We have the power! I saw a quote today: “In the end, we are our choices.”  I prefer the following version, “In the end, we reach our goals!”