The interview

 Dominic had been tirelessly applying for jobs after finishing university, eager to start his career. One morning, he came across a promising opening at a reputable company and decided to submit his resume. The position aligned perfectly with his skills, and the company’s values seemed to resonate with his own.


The night before his scheduled interview, Dominic meticulously prepared his portfolio, rehearsed common questions, and laid out his sharpest suit. His mother often told him, "Always look good eh, Dominic. You never know who’s watching." He hadn’t thought much of her advice until now, but he decided to heed it.


Unbeknownst to Dominic, one of the directors at the company, Mr. Greaves, lived several houses down from him. Though they had exchanged casual greetings in passing, they had never had a proper conversation. To Dominic, Mr. Greaves was simply the neighbor with big house with the neatly trimmed garden and the fancy car.


On the morning of the interview, Dominic set off confidently, dressed sharply and carrying himself with poise. As he reached his car, he noticed Mr. Greaves pruning his roses. Dominic greeted him warmly, and they exchanged a few pleasantries. He mentioned he was heading to a job interview without naming the company.


“Best of luck,” Mr. Greaves said with a knowing smile.

At the interview, Dominic was surprised to see Mr. Greaves sitting among the panelists. His initial shock was replaced with a rush of gratitude for his polished preparation. Throughout the interview, Dominic remained composed, articulating his strengths and sharing his ideas with passion.


At the end of the meeting, Mr. Greaves chuckled and said, “Dominic, you may not have realized this morning, but I’m on the board here. Watching how you carry yourself in everyday life gave me confidence that you’d be a good fit before you even stepped into this room.”


Dominic’s heart swelled. He had landed the job, not just because of his qualifications, but because of the way he consistently presented himself — confident, approachable, and polished. From that day forward, he lived by his mother’s advice, ensuring that every impression was his best.


You never know who’s watching.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charles - the Chess Champion (maybe?)

 Charles’s fingers hovered over the ivory knight, the checkered board a battlefield etched in his mind. Across from him sat Boris Volkov, a chess grandmaster whose icy stare could freeze Maracas beach. It was the final round of the Caribbean Chess Championship, a culmination of years of relentless training. The position was delicate, a subtle advantage held by Charles, a whisper of victory within reach. But then, the insidious whisper of doubt crept in. What if I move the knight? Is the bishop a better option? No, no, the rook… The internal debate raged, a tempest in his mind, while the clock ticked relentlessly. Boris’s eyes narrowed, sensing the hesitation. Charles’s hand trembled, then retreated from the knight. He opted for a safer, more conventional move, a move that conceded the subtle advantage he’d painstakingly built. The game ended in a draw, a respectable result, yet a crushing defeat in the context of the championship. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Charles, despite ...
Read more

Pyramid of the sun

 Gabriella grew up in a modest home in the heart of Venezuela, where her mother, Lucia, worked tirelessly to give her a better life. Lucia had once dreamed of exploring the vibrant cultures and landscapes of South and Central America, but life had other plans. Every cent she earned went toward Gabriella’s education and future. Her own happiness was sacrificed for her daughter’s success, and though she rarely complained, the weight of unfulfilled dreams lingered in her tired eyes. Gabriella, now a successful architect, never forgot her mother’s sacrifices. She often thought about the stories Lucia told her as a child — of the majestic Andes in Colombia, the breathtaking Machu Picchu in Peru, and the allure of Brazil’s Carnival. Despite never having left Venezuela, Lucia’s imagination made these places vivid. As Lucia’s health began to decline, Gabriella decided it was time to give her mother the gift of freedom — the freedom to step beyond her sacrifices and experience the beauty sh...
Read more

Three friends

 Cassandra, Nicole, and Lakeiska had been carrying invisible burdens for too long. The stress of work, the anxiety of unspoken fears, and the grief of personal losses had left them drained. So, when Cassandra suggested an outdoor retreat in Dominica far from the noise of their everyday lives, her friends eagerly agreed. The first evening, as they sat around a flickering fire under the vast expanse of the night sky, the weight of their emotions became evident. "Every scare, every fear, every doubt… they don’t just disappear," Nicole murmured. "They always shape us." Lakeiska nodded, watching the embers dance. "And even joy, sorrow, and happiness… they all leave their mark," she added. The days that followed were filled with quiet hikes, deep conversations, and moments of solitude. In the stillness, Cassandra found herself reflecting on the past, her insecurities, her hesitations, the anger she had long suppressed. Nicole and Lakeiska, too, felt the echoes o...
Read more