Have you ever been the victim of a job interview fail? I have. Many years ago, I was looking for a job painting our small town’s school. So I made a phone call. A high-pitched voice answered “Hello.” I asked, “Is your husband there?” There was a very long silence. “I am my husband,” he replied. I was so embarrassed. I’m not alone when it comes to failing during a job interview. Here are some firsthand accounts:
“The guy asked me to tell him a little about myself, and I literally forgot who I was.” “I was asked about punctuality. I said how it was good to speak clearly and politely, and it was nice to use proper grammar in speech and writing.” Yes, punctuation is important too. One job candidate forgot to bring dark socks to wear with his suit, so he colored in his ankles with a black felt marker. Another grabbed her prospective employer’s candy dish and poured its entire contents into her pocket. Bad idea. A hiring manager reported that one job candidate called his wife to make dinner plans—during the interview. In other stories, the job candidate:
• Came in with a cockatoo on his shoulder.
• Removed her socks and placed them on the interviewer’s desk.
• Tried to Google the answer to a question.
• Asked to be paid “under the table.”
• Popped out his teeth when discussing dental benefits.
• Crashed her car into the building.
You know, I once thought that getting into Heaven would be like a job interview. God would say, “Tell Me about yourself. Why should I let you in?” I would answer, “Well, I haven’t been perfect. But I’ve volunteered at church. Given money to a homeless man. Helped guys move furniture. I’m nice to be around.” And God would have no choice but to let me in. And then I heard the truth. All have sinned and fallen short. Sin separates us from God. My best resume fails to meet His requirements. But there’s good news. What God demands, He provides. Jesus’ resume is spotless: perfect obedience, a sinless life, a sacrificial death. Ephesians 2 says, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
I’m so thankful for God’s grace. And I’m thankful for gracious employers. Remember my botched phone interview? Well, it turned out the guy’s voice was an octave higher than most, and his grace level was too. I found that out when I got the job.
