“You’re really intense.”

It was an interview for a company and position I had dreamed about. I’d be studying for weeks. Met with three people in the office and was feeling awesome.

Then, in walks the VP. He sits down, spreads his legs out, puts his hands behind his head in a cocky manner, and asks me to tell him about my interests. I start talking and he almost immediately interrupts me with this statement.

He asks me to start talking again, then interrupts me again: “Yeah, you’re intense. Has anyone ever told you that? Like, really intense.”

Turns out, he was testing me. But I’ve never left a room feeling so unsure of myself.