No Bank for Me

I am thrilled.

Why?

I just finished a phone interview with ABN AMRO for a HR Organisational Development role.

How did it go?

WONDERFUL, but not for the traditional reasons that I am expecting a job offer. Rather, I entered the phone interview very apprehensive about why I was applying for a role in the financial sector. Last night I did not even feel the need to prepare, I was not even motivated to research the organisation.

Fabio says - Maybe you do not want it Maz
Chris says - Maybe you do not want it Maz
Mims says - Maybe you do not want it Maz
Anuj says - Maybe you do not want it Maz

SO I ask myself - Do I really want it?

Well yes, I mean I get MNC experience, better money, networks...all good right?

Anyway, I go into the phone interview with a different perspective - I am not going to get the job, I am going to find out if i WANT the job.

I am interviewed by two ABN AMRO executives - Claire and Kilian. They are great, and pretty quickly we establish a rapport.

I am instructed to tell them about the 'interesting' experiences that they can see on my resume - and I do so. I notice that my apprehension subsides, and passion enters my voice as I do so.

They explain the role to me - it sounds ok, but 50% of it would be routine work... wait, one of my weaknesses is that I do not respond well to mundane tasks. Hmmm does not sounds good.

They tell me how dynamic I sound, how they can hear the passion - then we cut to the honest talk. Mazzy, honestly speaking - Claire says - I have been working in the financial industry for 5 years now, the other 35 was in commerical. I can tell you it was very hard for me to adjust to the conservative traditional environment. How would you react to that, being the obviously creative person you are?

Well I tell her honestly, that was my biggest concern walking into this phone interview - whether I would fit with the organisational culture.

Can I draw upon your ideas and experience, and abandon this interview for a minute? I ask.

This is who I am, this is what I love - is this the role, or sector for me?

Honestly speaking Mazzy - I think that you would be amazing here BUT for you, probably a smaller more dynamic, organisation would better fit, and one that is not in the financial industry.

I tell her, actually I don't think that this is news to me, I think somehow I knew it all along.

Of course they are going to reflect and we will both have time to think things over, but I am so happy. The interview went well from my point of view - I clarified what I already knew... I am not meant to be working in a bank, this is like the anti-christ of what I admire, and require in my working life.

As much as I would learn (and I don't doubt that), I am not working into an optimal 'me' reality .... no, there are many more multi-national organisations which are more fast moving, forward thinking, with huge momentum - and if I am going to be working for someone else for awhile longer, I better damn well like them, and what they stand for. Its another sector for me I think.

Decision - MADE.