Over Prepared And Overlooked

I shouldn’t have brought a bazooka to a balloon fight.

Photo by elnaz asadi on Unsplash

Recently, I dove headfirst into a part-time gig interview.

The role? Working directly with the founder on presales and lead generation. To prep, I carved out a few hours – boredom is a great motivator – and crafted a slick slideshow. It showcased my CV, meshed perfectly with the job spec, and laid out my vision for the role and its execution.

Then came the interview. I breezed through, presented my slides, and wrapped up on a high note. The interviewer, intrigued, requested my compensation ideas. Another hour went into crafting a proposal that balanced ambitious growth with reasonable short-term earnings, all detailed in a sharp, crisp LinkedIn message.

Twenty-four hours later, the response pinged back: they chose someone else. Fair enough, but curiosity got the best of me. Why? The answer was a mix of flattery and frustration. Apparently, I was overqualified, over-prepared, and… intimidating? He feared I might overshadow his entire operation.

Flattered? Sure. But it left me pondering if I need to dial it back. Here I was, armed to the teeth for what was essentially a casual skirmish. Maybe it’s time to ease up, blend in a bit more. This bazooka approach might just be too much for a simple side hustle.

It stings a little, to tone down what feels natural. But hey, if it lands me the right gig without scaring off the opportunities, maybe embracing a touch of mediocrity isn’t such a bad play.

Here’s to adjusting the firepower!