Two things happened recently that taught me a lesson in humility and preparation.
We are all dealing with coronavirus quarantine isolation. Everything is different. I am trying to find ways to help. Although this is uncomfortable and scary for us all, sometimes funny things happen. I thought I would share so you can have a giggle at my expense.
Recently I created a video lesson, Shine! At your next Job Search Video Interview, teaching people how to set up their video equipment for a video interview. This is a skill we all need in this coronavirus world.
I thought it was funny. You might too. I made a dozen mistakes in camera set up, lighting and background, until finally settling on a set up that seemed to display my best me.
Nice, right?
Then I had a virtual speaking engagement on my favorite topic, LinkedIn for job seekers. The coronavirus new working situations changed all that, making virtual speaking engagements possible.
Time to put my video advice to work!!
I did a test run to find the best location, lighting and background. I put a box under my computer so the camera found the best angle (no up-the-nose-shots for me!). I tested the sound. The soft late afternoon light and the lovely water in the background would look great. I was all set!
I called into the zoom meeting 30 minutes early to test my equipment. Background. Check. Sound. Check. Slides moved right. Check. Ok, I leaned back and waited for the speaking engagement to begin.
This meeting of Grace Job Seekers would be in three acts. First, an overview of the group and the process. Then a lesson about LinkedIn basics and targeting companies. I was the final act with a presentation on advanced LinkedIn techniques.
I was ready. Camera, computer, slides, background, lighting. Until I wasn’t… It was awful.
During the second act, I realized I had to go to the bathroom. I watched the clock. Fifteen minutes until I was on. But I was on video in a little corner. Everyone could see me if I stepped away. I sat quietly, increasingly uncomfortable.
I went on promptly at 8:00 pm. The sound failed. There were so many people on the line that my “computer audio” was garbled. They couldn’t hear me! I ran into the next room, grabbed my phone and headset and quickly dialed into the telephone connection.
My fingers fumbled! I couldn’t find the password to log in! In the background, I could hear the host killing time. People I knew in the audience were trying to talk to me. I waved in my silent frustration. It took 9 minutes out of my 45 minute presentation to get back online.
Not a great start but ok, I can do this. Then I couldn’t advance the slides! I had to ask Todd to advance each slide. Not what we planned or practiced!
As I talked, I noticed my background was disappearing! The lighting I carefully curated was gone with the sunset. Shouldn’t I have anticipated this? I kept skooching the camera over a little towards the light coming from the next room. But in the end, it looked like a grotesque Halloween graphic, lit only by the computer screen.
Still I persevered! The presentation was fine. The content worked. Plenty of participation. I hit my mark and finished on time.
The best laid plans, right? The set up failed me COMPLETELY! Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. I was ready until I was not. Sometimes our best laid plans are upended. The coronavirus upending our 2020 plans, giving us an unwanted opportunity to display our character in these difficult times. How will you respond? What can you do to recover from these technical difficulties?
The way we respond to these difficulties is more important than the problems themselves. I am here for you to help in any way with job search or take a chance on my technical support. Whatever you need.
Discover the tactics to using LinkedIn as a critical part of your job search plan. Check out our free training, How to Use LinkedIn to Get the Job You Want.