I nearly blew a good professional opportunity today...

S

SilentAndShy

Well-known member
Aspiring to be a journalist/writer/reporter, I wrote an article for free for this specialised newspaper.

The editor called me and invited me for a meeting which was supposed to be today, to discuss freelance opportunities and possibly discuss an open position although the priority was more the former than the latter.

I was excited. In the midst of my doom and stresses, focusing on my professional objective would have helped.

I needed to catch a train for about 40 minutes or so.

This morning, I didn't get up and then some of my household were awake and downstairs and I panicked and thought they'd quiz me where I was going if I was suited up. I didn't go.

I cowardly, sent an email saying how a family issue came up.

I spent the day, worrying, angry at myself for doing this.

Luckily, the editor didn't mind so much. We've arranged for next week. She attached the article that was published and I feel happier now.

Just shows how that ludicrous moment in the morning could have cost me that opportunity for my career.

I'm trying to use my SA book to help me calm these things down.

P.S. Is it worth taking a box of chocolates next week to apologise? I felt so bad during the day that I want to do something but she might think then I'm giving it for another reason?
 
mikebird

mikebird

Banned
I really hope that goes well!!

I get this worry - often stuck on small or bigger reasons to attend or to not bother. Travel or moods in between

Every situation is a give/take myriad of factors.

I wish I'd chosen the artistic rather than my scientific and engineering route. Many do design, typefaces.. a good mate has become a newspaper journaling, writer reporter

I produce my own journal, and produce statistical reports by programming. Interviews are not nice. They sometimes work

Best of luck!
 
xfactishappy

xfactishappy

Member
SilentAndShy said:
Aspiring to be a journalist/writer/reporter, I wrote an article for free for this specialised newspaper.

The editor called me and invited me for a meeting which was supposed to be today, to discuss freelance opportunities and possibly discuss an open position although the priority was more the former than the latter.

I was excited. In the midst of my doom and stresses, focusing on my professional objective would have helped.

I needed to catch a train for about 40 minutes or so.

This morning, I didn't get up and then some of my household were awake and downstairs and I panicked and thought they'd quiz me where I was going if I was suited up. I didn't go.

I cowardly, sent an email saying how a family issue came up.

I spent the day, worrying, angry at myself for doing this.

Luckily, the editor didn't mind so much. We've arranged for next week. She attached the article that was published and I feel happier now.

Just shows how that ludicrous moment in the morning could have cost me that opportunity for my career.

I'm trying to use my SA book to help me calm these things down.

P.S. Is it worth taking a box of chocolates next week to apologise? I felt so bad during the day that I want to do something but she might think then I'm giving it for another reason?
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You don't need to show up with sweets, because that would imply you actually did something worth apologising. A family issue is not a cause enough for apologising. You don't want to hint her that you were lying either.

Just go and [try to] have some good time. Us SA bearers have to deal with these kinds of situations, but still we'd persist.
 
S

SilentAndShy

Well-known member
thegunners21 said:
This is what shows up on the main page:
"I nearly blew a good professional..."

I'll leave it at that.
Click to expand...

Haha! That went over me. I was looking at the title and thinking, very briefly, about that insinuation but thought meh, should be OK.

I can't seem to change it but hey, let's wait and see all those expecting a saucy story to come in and then be disappointed!

But thanks for the advice guys, going to ignore any gifts and just take myself and my work and see where it leads me!
 
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LoyalXenite

LoyalXenite

Well-known member
I agree that a gift is unnecessary. Good luck with your interview though, If you start to panic again, try and remind yourself of how regretful you felt. Use that to try and motivate you to move past your anxieties.
 
Richey

Richey

Well-known member
yeah i mean don't take the chocolates as you don't really know those people yet and there is no need to apologise. i dunno, you seem confident, you're writing articles for newspapers, freelancing, you seem to be pretty damn confident. best of luck. you're doing well. Perhaps prepare something for the editor, maybe like a brief or some questions for them.
 
S

SilentAndShy

Well-known member
Richey said:
yeah i mean don't take the chocolates as you don't really know those people yet and there is no need to apologise. i dunno, you seem confident, you're writing articles for newspapers, freelancing, you seem to be pretty damn confident. best of luck. you're doing well. Perhaps prepare something for the editor, maybe like a brief or some questions for them.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the compliment. I would say I'm quietly confident for this meeting coming up - I have a few positive interviews where I performed well that I'm going to use as my positive memory board for this one. Still a heck of a long way to till I'm "damn confident" thought ;)
 
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