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[msv]

Writing cover letters is not my forte, so it really sucks to not at least get a chance to have a go at an interview.

Luckily, I finally got a few interviews! Last week, this week and next week, and one more potentially (got a good reply, but was told it would take a while to set a date). I may even get the chance to choose, yay!

 

[N.Domixis]

My first ever professional interview tomorrow. I'm not sure how well I will do but time to get interview experience. I got really sick the past couple days and I lost all my nervousness must be the medicines.

 

[Mashin Haters]

My first ever professional interview tomorrow. I'm not sure how well I will do but time to get interview experience. I got really sick the past couple days and I lost all my nervousness must be the medicines.

good luck and don't forget to send a thank you letter after your interview

 

[stephencottontail]

So I was applying for some web design/development jobs and one of the jobs had an online application. The application had your basic questions and then some unusual questions like "Tell me a secret about yourself" and "What would you buy your grandmother for her birthday" and "Fill in the blank: You should really start ____". I understand that fitting into a company culture is important these days, but how much do these questions on an application actually help with that?

 

[Blargonaut]

Also here are some behavioral questions that you may encounter and tips to answer them.

Questions:

Leadership

Describe your problem-solving approach

• Describe a 3 pronged approach to problem-solving.
• Ask questions to understand the problem
• Conduct analysis to research possible solutions
• Select a path based on the probability of achieving the most beneficial outcome.
• Provide an example of when you’ve used this approach

If you could choose one thing to do over again, what would you choose and why?

• Recognize that leaders learn from failures
• Describe a failure and the impact it had on a team
• Explain what you learned from the event and how you altered your leadership skills accordingly

Describe a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty

• Define what you did
• Detail how it was an unexpected form of leadership
• Explain the result and what you learned from it

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Provide a meaningful, realistic vision
• Explain how your vision will motivate you to achieve a personal, professional or academic goal
• Ensure that your example aligns with the firm’s interests as well

Tell me about an accomplishment you are proud of.

• Select an accomplishment that proved difficult to achieve
• Explain how you overcame the challenge
• Describe why you feel proud of this accomplishment

Why should we hire you for this position?

• Explain why the position interests you
• Describe what you will bring to this role
• Offer insight that shows you understand something unique about the company

When have you had competing demands on your time and how did you handle them?

• Define the time commitments you faced.
• Detail how you prioritized your time
• Explain your reasoning for prioritizing your time the way you did.

What personal traits make you stand out for this role?

• Discuss stories that reveal a track record of success.
• Use this as an opportunity to highlight strong leadership capabilities

Tell me about yourself.

• You are a leader: provide a specific example
• You are a hard worker: talk about your goals and accomplishments
• You are passionate about the role: express your enthusiasm about the job
• Pick three leadership examples from your resume and briefly elaborate on them

Whom do you admire and why?

• Heads Up: The reason is more important than the person
• Select a person who exemplifies solid leadership
• Explain how the person leads, learns and teaches
• Talk about how these skills will be useful for the position to which you are applying

Teamwork

What have you done to build strong teams?

• Highlight an instance where you led a team to victory
• Describe the environment before and after you took a leadership role

What type of team allows you to thrive professionally?

• Talk about how you understand that you’ll be working with a variety of people
• Stress that you thrive in an environment that rewards both individual and group accomplishments

How have you handled a difficult working relationship?

• Describe the difficult relationship(Be sure to keep a positive attitude)
• Explain how you handled the relationship
• Talk about what you learned from the experience.

What type of work environment do you prefer?

• Understand the firm’s current work environment
• Explain why you’ll fit in the company’s culture
• Detail your successes in similar environments

Fit

How would you describe your ideal job?

• Understand the responsibilities of the job for which you are interviewing
• Discuss the aspects of this job that make it ideal for you now
• Highlight your desire to work within the company’s culture as well as within the specified role

How would your friends describe you?

• Understand the firm’s corporate culture
• Provide examples explaining that your friends describe you in ways that match the company’s values
• Conclude with a personal observation about the company and state that you would be a good fit at the firm

What is your greatest weakness?

• Talk about a skill you would like to develop
• Share an example of how you are already working on strengthening this area.

What is your greatest strength?

• Highlight a proven skill
• Relate how it is important to the role you are seeking.
• Be proud, not arrogant
• Communication

What attracted you to this position?

• Answer honestly
• Explain how this position allows you to pursue a personal passion

Been lurking for a while here; I'd just like to say, thank you so much for posting this list, it's really helping me to organize myself in preparation!

 

[SmellyHoundRedux]

These temp companies are vultures. I've been contacted by 4 different temp companies for a job I interviewed with last Monday. Even then, the company that set up the interview made it clear that I should hold out for this one job and stop looking for other jobs. I just got a call from some temp place that found my resume on Monster and wanted me to interview for a customer service job. No where does it say I've even done customer service on my resume.

 

[gwailo]

A lot of temp companies don't even bother looking at resumes that get posted on job sites. I would get tons of calls/emails from them for crap jobs like that. I think they just get some sort of report for new resumes posted and just mass email/cold call all of them. I just ignored the emails or hung up on the calls after a while since they were a total waste of time. Monster seemed to be the worst in regards to this, most of the agencies specifically mentioned seeing my resume on there.

So I was applying for some web design/development jobs and one of the jobs had an online application. The application had your basic questions and then some unusual questions like "Tell me a secret about yourself" and "What would you buy your grandmother for her birthday" and "Fill in the blank: You should really start ____". I understand that fitting into a company culture is important these days, but how much do these questions on an application actually help with that?

I wouldn't bother answering those questions. That sort of thing is frankly none of their business and if the "culture" encourages that sort of thing, it's not a company that I would want to work for.

 

[InfiniteBento]

So I need advice real quick about job shit.

I had my interview last wednesday and staged in their kitchen thursday. This weekend + monday was memorial day weekend. Its tuesday now and I still haven't heard back.

Should I wait to reach out a little longer considering the holiday weekend?

I feel anxious as fuck about this.

 

[meowmixer]

Job hunting ruined ice cream for me.

I interviewed at Blue Bunny once and now every time I see their ice cream in the store I get annoyed like "oh I wasn't good enough for you?" Goddamn this stuff really screws with you doesn't it?

 

[Syphon Filter]

So I need advice real quick about job shit.

I had my interview last wednesday and staged in their kitchen thursday. This weekend + monday was memorial day weekend. Its tuesday now and I still haven't heard back.

Should I wait to reach out a little longer considering the holiday weekend?

I feel anxious as fuck about this.

Yea wait a little since yesterday does not count, they just got back today. Did they mention a specific day that they will let you know of a decision?

 

[The Shadow]

No, let me rephrase. I use my the email supplied by my university on neogaf. Will that lead them here?

Naw. It's not publicly viewable.

Anything that's searchable can lead you to whatever, but it has to be visible publicly.

So I was applying for some web design/development jobs and one of the jobs had an online application. The application had your basic questions and then some unusual questions like "Tell me a secret about yourself" and "What would you buy your grandmother for her birthday" and "Fill in the blank: You should really start ____". I understand that fitting into a company culture is important these days, but how much do these questions on an application actually help with that?

My guess is that they're there to get the interviewee to open up a little and expose what they're like. It's one thing to have the experience and education for a job, but another to "fit in" personality wise. If someone is a stick in the mud but the company is happy-go-lucky, this could help evaluate if someone will fit in and be comfortable.

Just answer them honestly. They won't make or break you in the grand scheme of things. Not unless you have some extreme answers.

 

[whytemyke]

Has anyone here ever looked at those jobs over in the middle east where they contract you to go over and work for a year or two?

Any thoughts/opinions on the whole thing? I heard that you can get good money but you'll be pretty bored (at best) living on essentially a base the entire time.

If you've done it, do you have any recommendations as to where to look? Sites to use?

 

[InfiniteBento]

Yea wait a little since yesterday does not count, they just got back today. Did they mention a specific day that they will let you know of a decision?

Chef said this week (being last week) or next (this week)

 

[Jzero]

Job hunting ruined ice cream for me.

I interviewed at Blue Bunny once and now every time I see their ice cream in the store I get annoyed like "oh I wasn't good enough for you?" Goddamn this stuff really screws with you doesn't it?

Yep same happened to me with Apple when they didn't even give me an interview.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Chef said this week (being last week) or next (this week)

I would wait this week out and if nothing happens on Monday then contact them for an update.

 

[SmellyHoundRedux]

Alright, so I'm in a weird situation. I'm in my mid 30s and have the opportunity to either work this summer or go to school (college). Really doesn't matter, except that if I work, I'll have a bit of extra money for the year, but if I go to school, it'll put me ahead of the game in terms of classes.

So I've been applying for shipping jobs and they are taking FOREVER to get back to me. I've been on 2 interviews and met with a temp agency that was a waste of time. Anyways, should I keep applying for jobs or just wait for these 2 jobs to get back to me? Classes start in 2 weeks, and I've already signed up for them, I just have to pay or move them to the next semester. I can go to some poe dunk temp job and get slammed in the back of a truck loading/offloading all summer, wait to hear back from the 2 shipping clerk jobs (which are fair less physically demanding) or take the summer classes?

Honestly, I'm just bored from not having school or a job. I had a full time job up until January, then quit to go to school, I planned on working part time through the summer, but all there is low level grocery store work, or full time truck loading/off loading work. All the normal jobs are taking forever to get back to me. Either way, it's only for the summer, and I do feel a bit guilty of trying to get into a job that I'll have to quit in 3 months to go back to school. Working full time and going to school isn't an option, I did that for 3 years and ran out of classes I can take online/at night.

 

[Quick]

Applied to about a dozen job postings last week, and I've only received confirmations from three companies acknowledging that they've received my resume, and those emails seemed automatic or at least generic.

I'm not exactly waiting on them, but I was hoping I'd get contacted by someone at this point. But that being said, it's been years since I actively looked for jobs, so I may be lost on proper wait times for these things.

 

[nillah]

it's a job to answer job applications. humanity has shown that people don't like doing their jobs lol give it time

 

[Veelk]

Hey, guess who has two thumbs and just got the call back for an interview?

They seemed really excited to meet me. They specifically asked me about what I want to do from a HR assistant position, and I told them I wasn't sure, which I was worried was a mistake. Truth is, I was hoping to jump into an HR position and scout what I want to do from there. And they were like "Well, tell you what, why don't I gather a bunch of people from different divisions, and during the interview, you can decide who you want to go with if we decide to take you?"

Like, holy shit. I'm not interviewing for 1 job, but several. They either really want me, based off my resume (which she actually went out of her way to say was impressive) or they only kinda want me, but I only need to score on one job to get it.

So, Gaf, how do I NOT fuck this up? I'm already looking over B4s5C's post and preparing for it, but anything else I should know? I'm nervous as this will be my first professional interview, more or less. The only other one I had was for a cook job and that was obviously not on this level.

 

[Rebel Leader]

I got nothing. Oh well.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I applied for a bunch of state positions months ago when I started my search. Since then I've interviewed elsewhere, and gone through the hiring process for an IT position at a hospital. And literally the week I'm notified I got the job the State calls to schedule an interview. I don't even want to bother going to it because I'm pretty committed to the hospital at this point. But I don't want to ignore a drastically better opportunity.

Do you think the state offers better job growth/opportunities than a hospital? Again, I work IT. Both will be starting in help-desk however the hospital basically said in 6 months I'll be transitioned into another team (probably infrastructure).

 

[InfiniteBento]

Reached out to the hotel I staged and interviewed at. Left my information with the HR woman to give to the chef so he can reach out and update me since its been a week. Also got their address so I can at least send a thank you note even if I don't get the position.

Still not feeling confident about this tbh

 

[2San]

I applied to the BIG 4 accounting firms (3 of the 4). I'm switching from a smaller firm (working 1 year) and I am amazed how easy it's going. One firm gave me an offer during the first interview (they left for 5 mins to discuss). The other on the 2nd interview. Third firm is pending, I had the final interview (2nd) this morning.

It's crazy that when I was studying I failed to acquire an internship and have been searching a job for year before landing my first real job (started applying 5 months before graduating).

 

[nhlducks35]

I applied to the BIG 4 accounting firms (3 of the 4). I'm switching from a smaller firm (working 1 year) and I am amazed how easy it's going. One firm gave me an offer during the first interview (they left for 5 mins to discuss). The other on the 2nd interview. Third firm is pending, I had the final interview (2nd) this morning.

It's crazy that when I was studying I failed to acquire an internship and have been searching a job for year before landing my first real job (started applying 5 months before graduating).

Yeah because Big 4 always need experienced associates during the year

 

[2San]

Yeah because Big 4 always need experienced associates during the year

True, there's a real lack of people with some experience in the industry.

Still surprised me how much difference 1 year makes.

 

[mikefrails]

Start your own business. Fuck this work shit, dawg.

 

[InfiniteBento]

Start your own business. Fuck this work shit, dawg.

Its dumb because I have this notebook filled with ideas for my own business (from name to logo to location to set up to menu) but I have no idea where to start in terms of getting the ball rolling so I just keep adding to it eventually hoping some day I'll figure it out.

Legit have zero clue how to start a business.

 

[vainya]

I applied for a bunch of state positions months ago when I started my search. Since then I've interviewed elsewhere, and gone through the hiring process for an IT position at a hospital. And literally the week I'm notified I got the job the State calls to schedule an interview. I don't even want to bother going to it because I'm pretty committed to the hospital at this point. But I don't want to ignore a drastically better opportunity.

Do you think the state offers better job growth/opportunities than a hospital? Again, I work IT. Both will be starting in help-desk however the hospital basically said in 6 months I'll be transitioned into another team (probably infrastructure).

The state offers little to no growth opportunities most of the time, but it does offer stability and great benefits. It looks like you have a better shot at growing your career at the hospital.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Legit have zero clue how to start a business.

US? If so it varies by state. When my dad opened his business (in Michigan) it was basically just paying a small fee and registering the name, then going from there. I believe the fee is smaller if you're looking to start a nonprofit.

The state offers little to no growth opportunities most of the time, but it does offer stability and great benefits. It looks like you have a better shot at growing your career at the hospital.

Yeah I figure the state is super secure but I also feel the hospital will be. Both are union positions with full benefits. Just looking mostly for which will offer a better future.

 

[InfiniteBento]

US? If so it varies by state. When my dad opened his business (in Michigan) it was basically just paying a small fee and registering the name, then going from there. I believe the fee is smaller if you're looking to start a nonprofit.

Yeah, currently living in Chicago. Not sure if I would open my business here or in another state. I imagine its a lot more than just getting a license tho. I don't even know where to find information on how to do it. Google leads me to a bunch of bullshit articles.

 

[CosmicQueso]

Yeah, currently living in Chicago. Not sure if I would open my business here or in another state. I imagine its a lot more than just getting a license tho. I don't even know where to find information on how to do it. Google leads me to a bunch of bullshit articles.

1) Write a business plan
2) Set up an LLC or some other means of limiting your personal liabilities
3) Execute the business plan
4) Hopefully profit

The SBA.GOV site actually answers these questions pretty succinctly.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Yeah, currently living in Chicago. Not sure if I would open my business here or in another state. I imagine its a lot more than just getting a license tho. I don't even know where to find information on how to do it. Google leads me to a bunch of bullshit articles.

I think I recall a business owner OT thread on GAF which I'm sure is full of knowledgeable people. I only have my father and current employer to go off of since they're business owners. My dad is a life long auto mechanic so after registering his business he just found a garage to rent and began to work. He already had tools and everything. After saving he could afford a hoist, and then a partner to crank out more work. Since then he's gone on to buy his own building and covert it into a three car garage with half a dozen employees. My boss sells IT services to school districts and runs his business out of his house at like basically no cost to him.

 

[nampad]

Yeah because Big 4 always need experienced associates during the year

To be fair, my experience with the Big 4 are quite relaxed compared to the bullshit some people here have to get through, even when I applied without much experience (only had internships at a Big 4 before and was unemployed for quite a while).
It is just crazy when people here report that they have to jump through several hoops and interview after interview for some entry position.

Though there might be some cultural differences because I am from Europe.

 

[Collete]

I landed a freelance writing gig (really low pay) that I get to write dialogue for a game.

It's not much, but I'm hoping this will eventually lead to higher paying gigs.
To those wanting to start their business, it's not hard but you have to do your homework.
I'm trying to work on my freelance writing business on the side, but remember, you have to put real effort in and not just do a few things and expect the bucks to rain down.

Spoiler

I say this because I expected the same thing and I feel like there are others like me too...

 

[Syphon Filter]

I landed a freelance writing gig (really low pay) that I get to write dialogue for a Kickstarter game.

It's not much, but I'm hoping this will eventually lead to higher paying gigs.
To those wanting to start their business, it's not hard but you have to do your homework.
I'm trying to work on my freelance writing business on the side, but remember, you have to put real effort in and not just do a few things and expect the bucks to rain down.

Spoiler

I say this because I expected the same thing and I feel like there are others like me too...

Nice, it's still something you can build on. I can relate as I also am doing freelance on the side with ideally getting a full time eventually. My field is design but the same principles apply. Where did you find this gig?

 

[Collete]

Nice, it's still something you can build on. I can relate as I also am doing freelance on the side with ideally getting a full time eventually. My field is design but the same principles apply. Where did you find this gig?

Craigslist of all things!
Funny enough, I got most of my paying work from there.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Craigslist of all things!
Funny enough, I got most of my paying work from there.

Yea I use craigslist a lot. Did you post about your services or was it one you found from someone else?

 

[Collete]

Yea I use craigslist a lot. Did you post about your services or was it one you found from someone else?

I found from someone else.
Chances are, you're not gonna find much if you just post your services since you're a grain of salt amidst the vast ocean of writers.
Your writing has to be the proof and you have to approach them, otherwise they're not gonna hire you.

Spoiler

That's what's working from my experience anyway

 

[SaviourMK2]

Finding a job for me is like trying to drink all the ocean water. I'll either drown in my own skin or die from poisoning, I'll never get the goal.

I held a job as a gas station attendant between 2006 and 2008 before I quit after months of employee quarreling and wanted to find something better. I then got a job at a TRU but was laid off with half of the night staff after only a month. I then spent the next 4 years looking and applying. I finally got a job at.... surprise surprise, another gas station in 2012, I held onto it until 2014 when I was fired so the manager could continue to be a pig.

It's 2016 and this September, I'll have been unemployed for 2 years.

I keep a list of places i've applied to for records with links to resumes filled with skills targeted toward that establishment, each "*" is represented by an interview (needless to say, rejected)

Retail:
Wal-Mart
Target
Aldi's *
Stop & Shop
Toys R Us
Stewart Lenords
GameStop *
PetSmart
PetCo.
Save-A-lot *
Best Buy *
Sam's Club
BJ's ** (Another Sam's Club)

State:
CT Transit

Gas Station:
7Eleven
Cumberland Farms

Food:
Popeyes
Buffalo Wild Wings
Between Rounds
Boston Market
Chili's
Sonic
Panera Bread ***

It's hard, it's really, really hard. Especially since it's all electronic now and they never even give you a chance, just autp reject you.

 

[Veelk]

Hey, guess who has two thumbs and just got the call back for an interview?

They seemed really excited to meet me. They specifically asked me about what I want to do from a HR assistant position, and I told them I wasn't sure, which I was worried was a mistake. Truth is, I was hoping to jump into an HR position and scout what I want to do from there. And they were like "Well, tell you what, why don't I gather a bunch of people from different divisions, and during the interview, you can decide who you want to go with if we decide to take you?"

So, Gaf, how do I NOT fuck this up? I'm already looking over B4s5C's post and preparing for it, but anything else I should know? I'm nervous as this will be my first professional interview, more or less. The only other one I had was for a cook job and that was obviously not on this level.

Sorry to quote myself within the same page, but I really want this answered. I have officially about 15 hours to that debate, and I've prepared some, but I still want to cover and ground I may have missed.

 

[MrPink93485]

Time to join the thread. I got notice our office was closing down a couple months ago and I had an interview for something that didn't turn out. After that, the company that was closing the office down looked into the possibility of allowing me to work remotely, but it's been radio silence there for a week or two. It doesn't seem like a good shot of happening based on my most recent discussion with my boss.

It's frustrating to know your expiration date at your job but have to put on a good face and train people who are going to replace you some thousand miles away. I've lost all focus and purpose at work, and it's a shitty attitude to take and I know it. The past couple years I've worked on building all this client specific knowledge and I'm just supposed to hand it off and go on my way. And none of it was my fault, the office closed for reasons that were far beyond my control. And since we've handed off a lot of our daily work, it means I have to work on some projects that won't affect me going forward. I can't muster the motivation to get the ball rolling on those projects. Hard to get over it.

I was heading to D.C. anyways to go to school but I want to work while going for my master's.

 

[esmith08734]

Drove ten hours today for a job interview in Virginia. I am not sure how it went. It was the third interview. I am a software developer (aspiring, at least) and seemed to pass the cultural fit questions, I got all the technical questions right, but the whiteboard question through me off. I misunderstood the directions. I found the duplicates in an array but I was suppose to make checks to see if there was still another value of the same character.

Pretty frustrating, since I went all the way there for a whiteboard question that will never be applicable. I hate those questions.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

I applied for a bunch of state positions months ago when I started my search. Since then I've interviewed elsewhere, and gone through the hiring process for an IT position at a hospital. And literally the week I'm notified I got the job the State calls to schedule an interview. I don't even want to bother going to it because I'm pretty committed to the hospital at this point. But I don't want to ignore a drastically better opportunity.

Do you think the state offers better job growth/opportunities than a hospital? Again, I work IT. Both will be starting in help-desk however the hospital basically said in 6 months I'll be transitioned into another team (probably infrastructure).

Unless you're in a place like DC with tons of gov jobs, I'd say that a hospital offers better room for advancement because there are so many IT firms in health care. A government job may make sense if you're looking more for a stable position.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

Sorry to quote myself within the same page, but I really want this answered. I have officially about 15 hours to that debate, and I've prepared some, but I still want to cover and ground I may have missed.

I doubt many people have gone through an interview with that structure before so its difficult to provide feedback. Does this company have a program for onboarding entry level hires like this? I would ask for details on how they have handled similar candidates in the past. Since you aren't going to have experience in whatever department you land in, it would be good to have a couple of anecdotes showing your ability to adapt to new situations quickly.

 

[Veelk]

I doubt many people have gone through an interview with that structure before so its difficult to provide feedback. Does this company have a program for onboarding entry level hires like this? I would ask for details on how they have handled similar candidates in the past. Since you aren't going to have experience in whatever department you land in, it would be good to have a couple of anecdotes showing your ability to adapt to new situations quickly.

They actually didn't. They asked me where I wanted to go from HR assistant to, and I was like "uh...I don't know, I was hoping to scope out the field." and then she was like "Well, why don't I bring in a bunch of people to let you choose." I was going to get a more traditional interview before I said that, so I assume most rules still apply.

 

[malfcn]

Recently found out that apparently I'm paid below average. Highest volume store in the area, and senior manager. I feel like it's time to get out.

 

[streetsahead123]

Applying for jobs would be so much better if HR wasn't a huge clusterfuck in every corporation in the world. I know a lot of these companies are dealing with hundreds of applications at a time and that sifting through them is not their only job, but part of what makes applying so soulcrushing is knowing that the vast majority of applications you send in will get no response, some will get an initial response and then nothing, and a very small percentage will actually respond and continue to respond until they hire you or tell you they are no longer considering you. It can't be that hard to send a rejection e-mail.

 

[norm9]

They actually didn't. They asked me where I wanted to go from HR assistant to, and I was like "uh...I don't know, I was hoping to scope out the field." and then she was like "Well, why don't I bring in a bunch of people to let you choose." I was going to get a more traditional interview before I said that, so I assume most rules still apply.

That's tough. From a trying to get hired standpoint, I'd hear them all out, and ask which department needs the most help and go with that. Or you can go with a generic I'd love to grow with whatever department you randomly decide to pick (though you'll of course say you picked the random department because you want the challenge).

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Drove ten hours today for a job interview in Virginia. I am not sure how it went. It was the third interview. I am a software developer (aspiring, at least) and seemed to pass the cultural fit questions, I got all the technical questions right, but the whiteboard question through me off. I misunderstood the directions. I found the duplicates in an array but I was suppose to make checks to see if there was still another value of the same character.

Pretty frustrating, since I went all the way there for a whiteboard question that will never be applicable. I hate those questions.

Ten hours? Gosh damn!

 

[Veelk]

Here's one thing I'm not sure if I should mention.

If they asked me what my biggest weakness or failure is, should I mention my clinical depression?

I've had it for a long while, but I've managed it. Then one time, it became worse than usual and it just stopped my life dead in it's tracks. It was a sort of paralysis, not of my body, but of my inertia. I lost the will do to anything except basic human needs. Since then, I've been working to make sure that doesn't happen again. From this, I've worked to make some good habits for myself, work habits I think they'd like, such as the desire to keep myself busy, so I take detailed intensive personal projects.

People shun away from mental illnesses, but maybe the fact that I've worked to overcome a pretty monumental problem and gained some achievements in it says something? And depression is pretty ubiquetous, so they'll probably relate me to atleast one person they know in life.