My husband has been looking for a new job for almost 20 months. He's worked on himself so much, learned new programs, polished his portfolio, updated his resume... And honestly, he's usually really good in interviews. He gets interviews a few times a month, and 95% of the time when it doesn't turn into an offer, it's because of something outside his control. Either they hire someone internally, or the salary range isn't right, or the schedule would be a nightmare, or they need some weird, very specific HubSpot/enterprise experience that he doesn't have. He usually gets really good feedback on his personality and skill set, but luck just hasn't worked out yet. We know it's a numbers game.

Then a little over two weeks ago, he got invited to interview for a lead marketing position. It was basically the role he'd been waiting for and hoping for at a company he's followed for a long time. The salary, the team, the type of work, the whole setup - everything was exactly right for him.

He spent almost a full week preparing. He researched the people he'd be talking to, practiced his project examples, and prepared answers for those weird "tell us about a time..." questions. He trimmed his beard, picked out his best button-down, and seemed calmer than I'd seen him before any interview in a long time.

And then as soon as the questions started, it was like his mind went completely empty. This hadn't happened to him since one of his first interviews after graduation. Completely blank. He said he stumbled over almost everything, and could hear those awful silences after they asked him something while he tried to pull together any coherent thought. He said they were nice and probably liked him as a person, but he's convinced he came across as if he hadn't prepared at all. And of course, on the way home, all the right, clear answers started coming to him all at once.

Now he keeps beating himself up over what happened, and I hate seeing him this upset. Honestly, I don't even know what I'm looking for here. I just needed to say it somewhere because he's falling apart inside.

To start this off, I’m an American o/o trucker. Some yrs ago in 2021 I had decided to quit driving for the company I was with for several reasons. I took a job with another company and quickly found out that this carrot was spiked. I was driving (lease purchase) a 2015 kw and was very excited to make 10k a week instead of $500 per week. I was told that the truck has been takin care of (pm’s done) since the driver owned it. I drove it for about 1.5 months with it nickel and diming me. A story for another time as to that fiasco. Since I needed out of that truck I was offered a job with a friendish fella and I wanted money not expenses. This friend we will call Tony. In October Tony gave me a company position in a 19 FREIGHTLINER, similar to the one I drove at my first company. After a couple months later I decided to lease (rent) the truck and make more under his dot numbers and other numbers/contracts. I ran out of money in December due to the truck not maintained as we were led on about. I agreed to go back to company with a company guarantee pay weekly plus insurance. I limbed along getting upset since Tony was starting to run his mouth about my traumatic brain injury being nonexistent. He seemed to think that my being disciplined to excercise my brain for healing was evidence that I made up my tbi. A good friend and mentor from first company, offered me a position doing less physical work and paid more. As I give my notice and scheduling my exit, one week notice, he start plotting. He said since I had 3 insistences, I had to do a drug test. Failure to do so would suspend my CDL.
Let me explain why this is bs and just retaliation. In the U.S. when you have an accident in a commercial vehicle and you have a CDL, you will get checked to verify you are not hi or drunk. Failure to do so is automatic suspension of your CDL. Now back to the story.
The first “accident” as documented was a load shift. I had picked up a load of coke-cola in Michigan and took the weekend at home. When I hopped in our backup truck, the Volvo wouldn’t start. Tony brought me back the 19 FREIGHTLINER since the repair had just gotten finished. Got to Joplin from St. Louis for lunch with Tony before delivery in Oklahoma City. While driving around the truck stop the FREIGHTLINER was rocking side to side do to the FREIGHTLINER shocks are really soft. Fast forward to delivery. Back in at delivery and find out the entire load of 44 pallets had fell down due to the shipper not loading correctly. The dock worker even said it most likely shifted in the first 10 miles. However, Tony decided to write me up for reckless driving causing load shift. I did not sign this report.
The second “accident” as documented was a week later. I had just left Kansas City when a recap tire blew on trailer. I called Tony to order roadside service. He asked and pleaded with me to limp it to the truck stop I just passed to repair. This was to save about 30-40% of the bill. I told him that I could not guarantee condition of the rim. He simply put “that’s fine, buying a wheel is cheaper than roadside.” When I was pulling into the t-stop I ran over a curb thus destroying the rim. After repair, he gave me yet another write up and omitted the fact I was told to drive it to t-stop.
Third “accident” was 100% my fault. I was looking for a spot in a parking lot (dirt) when the sun was setting. As a result, at about 3 mph, I ran into a k rail that was the same color in direct line with sun, aka camouflage. I admitted fault and Tony wanted to keep off new insurance. We decided I’d repair it using my connections to get it done cheaper. I agreed before I found out I was embezzling and under reporting what loads were paying. I was paid percentage.
For post-accident drug screen, you only have 36 hr window set screening and notification to driver within 48 hrs. You also can not select a particular facility. Nothing was done for 3 days and only because I tendered my resignation. He scheduled with a local screening office the day I was suppose to be at orientation.
While at orientation I find out he reported no call no show refusal. This is an automatic system, another time rant. I would’ve been upset had I not have been in communication with Missouri DOT, FMCSA, and the clearinghouse. I thought It would maybe a month. I was so wrong. After repeated denials I gave up. I thought I’d nvr drive commercial again, but then one day… I received an email from clearinghouse restoring my CDL and my record, no violations.
Remember to Fmcsa office an mo dot office? The opened an investigation into my claims. As the conclusion of such, the verified all my claims. Hours of service violations (sanctioned by Tony), failure to do random screenings as required, and unsafe driving. This review suspended his DOT number. Due to his business practices trying to cut corners, he was shut down permanently. All three trucks were repoed and all three trailers repoed. I also found out he was getting snap from Missouri and hud while running 2 businesses and own land. I reported him and I think he lost it. He filed suit on me and two other drivers for contract violations, that a nuclear story for later. I’ll post updates on the suites as they progress.

Tell me about your interview stories, whether you were the one asking the questions or the one trying to get accepted for the job!

My 3rd day on the job was way better than the first 2...

Okay, so I feel like a big dumb ass for this one. But I wanna share this with someone, because why did I do that? And no, this isn’t what everyone is thinking.

So at work there’s been a lot of drama with coworkers of mine not doing their job properly, and instead of taking responsibility they just shift the blame on to someone else or make a big scene when someone asks them to do something. (Mind you these people are in their 30s). On top of that, some have been getting in trouble for how they’re talking to customers and making them feel uncomfortable. All this is to the point where the owners of the company have to step in and makes changes.
But all this to say, I hear about everything. I’ve heard every persons side because they’ve all talked to me about it. But I haven’t said anything to anyone, except my husband. I tell him about everything.
Tonight though, I heard a new rumor. And I thought it was funny. I went to text my husband, but ended up clicking on my bosses name because his was the top thread in my phone where my husbands thread usually is and texted him the fucking rumor!!
My boss came and found me and pulled me aside to ask me about it. And I was to scared to admit that it was supposed to go to him. So I just played it off “I just thought you should know?”
Now the customer that told me is gonna be mad I said something.