Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it seemed...

[Tobin S.]

...like you were just way out of your league?

My mantra for situations like that is, "Relaxed and confident. Relaxed and confident. Relaxed and confident."

There are clear lines drawn between the classes. You may not be able to see them with your eyes, but they are there. When you cross them, the cool rich people make you feel welcome and treat you like an equal. The ones who think they are better than you will make you acutely aware of where that line is drawn.

I know this because we have friends who are wealthy and they treat me and my wife with respect even though we're working class folks. When we are with them, I don't feel like there is any distance between us. They are friendly and down to Earth. They are liberals. To get a taste of the other kind all you have to do is listen to Mitt Romney speak for a few minutes. He will let you know, without even trying, that you do not live in the same world that he does.

This post is more for me than anyone else, and I'll review it frequently over the next week or so. I'm going to be meeting with someone who could very well hold the keys to my future in his hands and I know that he's in a different league, a different class, than me. I just don't know what persuasion he is at the moment.

Relaxed and confident. Relaxed and confident. Relaxed and confident.

[csziggy]

1. Tobin, you've already proven yourself - you have done what very few can do

You graduated with honors AND while working full time!

Don't go into your interviews with the idea that the other person is of a different class. They probably never had the grades you have even though they likely didn't have to work their way through school. Just because some accident of birth gave them an easier path doesn't mean they are better people. Quite often the reverse is true.

You are in a league far above most people. Take that attitude into your interviews and consider that you are doing any company a favor by letting them have the opportunity to hire you.

Now go wow them!

[Tobin S.]

3. Thank you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That is exactly the right thing to say to yourself, my dear Tobin.

You know who you are, and what you're good at. You know how to get ahead.

You will do well with this meeting, as long as you stay...


Relaxed and confident.

[Tobin S.]

4. :)

[cwydro]

7. ...

[elleng]

5. Yes, BE relaxed and confident,

and if he's worth anything (and worth working for and being referred by,) he'll appreciate you.

We promise.

[mnhtnbb]

6. Tobin, I worked for many years in hospital management and

I know, from experience, exactly what you mean because we had docs--in a well known teaching hospital--who were as friendly and respectful as anyone could be when working with others, and then there were those who took every chance
they could get to put you in your place. There were some docs that were really, really good
at intimidation and throwing off an aura of superiority. But you know what? They put their
pants on the same way anyone else does, and it helped more than a few members of my team
to visualize some of these guys in their shorts. It never failed to get the person who was having
to deal with the intimidating doc to smile, relax, and be confident.

So, I think you have a winning strategy.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

8. Your home run counts. It's real. You didn't start on third base.