The Interview

M Mehran

Jordan smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt for the hundredth time. He had polished his shoes until he could see his reflection, rehearsed answers in front of the mirror, and practiced smiling without looking desperate. Still, as he sat in the lobby of Halston & Co., nerves buzzed through him like static electricity.

This was the interview—the one that could finally pull him out of late-night shifts and endless applications. The job was entry-level, nothing glamorous, but it promised stability. Benefits. A chance to breathe.

The receptionist gave him a polite smile. “They’ll call you in shortly.”

Jordan nodded, though his throat was too dry for words. He clutched his folder of résumés like a life raft. He had researched the company, memorized its mission statement, even practiced answers to the dreaded “What’s your greatest weakness?” question. He was ready—or so he thought.


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The Waiting Game

Waiting was the worst part. Every tick of the clock made his heart beat louder. Other candidates sat nearby—confident, well-dressed, scrolling on their phones like they had done this a hundred times. Jordan fought the urge to compare himself.

They look smarter. More polished. Why would they choose me?

He forced himself to breathe slowly. His grandmother’s words echoed in his head: You don’t have to be the smartest in the room. You just have to be the one who cares the most.

Finally, the door opened. A man in a crisp suit stepped out. “Jordan, we’re ready for you.”


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Across the Table

The interview room was brighter than he expected. A long glass table. Two interviewers sat on the other side—Ms. Patel, the hiring manager, and Mr. Reynolds, a senior team lead. They shook his hand firmly, offered polite smiles, and gestured for him to sit.

“Thank you for coming in today,” Ms. Patel began.

“Thank you for having me,” Jordan replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

The questions started predictably. “Tell us about yourself.” “What do you know about our company?” Jordan answered carefully, trying to sound confident without rambling. He mentioned his degree, his part-time jobs, his interest in teamwork and problem-solving.

Then came curveballs.

“How do you handle failure?”

“What would you do if you disagreed with your supervisor?”

Jordan paused before answering, remembering advice he had read online: honesty matters more than perfection. He admitted he’d failed before—missed a deadline at his last job—but explained how he learned to prioritize tasks and ask for help early. He described listening respectfully to supervisors while also voicing concerns.

The interviewers nodded, jotting notes.


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The Unexpected Question

Then Ms. Patel leaned forward. “One last question. Why should we choose you over the other candidates?”

Jordan’s stomach dropped. This was it—the hardest question. He thought of all the others in the lobby, their polished shoes and easy smiles. He wanted to say, You shouldn’t pick me. I’m nervous. I don’t know if I belong here.

But he remembered his grandmother again. You just have to be the one who cares the most.

So he took a breath. “I can’t say I’m more experienced than everyone else,” he began slowly. “But what I can say is that I will give everything I have to this role. I know what it’s like to work three jobs just to make ends meet. I know the value of stability, and I don’t take opportunities for granted. If you hire me, I’ll show up every day ready to work, ready to learn, and ready to give my best.”

Silence filled the room. For a terrifying moment, he thought he’d blown it. Then Mr. Reynolds gave a small smile.

“Thank you,” he said.


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The Long Walk Home

The interview ended with polite handshakes. “We’ll be in touch within a week,” Ms. Patel said.

Jordan walked out into the crisp afternoon air, heart pounding. He replayed every answer in his head, cringing at some, second-guessing others. Had he said too much? Too little? He couldn’t tell.

By the time he reached the bus stop, exhaustion sank in. Interviews, he realized, weren’t just about jobs—they were about laying your whole self on the table, hoping someone found value in it.


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The Call

Three days later, Jordan’s phone buzzed while he was stocking shelves at his part-time job. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

He stepped into the back room, heart racing. “Hello?”

“Jordan? This is Ms. Patel from Halston & Co. We’d like to offer you the position.”

For a moment, Jordan couldn’t speak. Relief, joy, disbelief—all tangled together. “Yes,” he managed. “Yes, absolutely. Thank you.”

When he hung up, he leaned against the wall, grinning like a fool.


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More Than a Job

That night, he called his grandmother. “I got it,” he said. She laughed, the kind of laugh that warmed his chest even across the phone line.

“I told you,” she said. “Caring matters. They saw it in you.”

Jordan realized then that the interview wasn’t just about proving he was qualified—it was about showing who he was when the pressure was on. He had walked into that room carrying nerves, doubts, and hope. And somehow, he walked out carrying a future.

For anyone facing their own big interview, he had one piece of advice: prepare, yes. Practice, yes. But when the moment comes, don’t be afraid to let them see your passion. Because sometimes, that’s what sets you apart.