Epic fail: idioms for job interviews

Memo to self: Keep it simple

My hang gliding experience in the Bavarian Alps looked a lot like this - but this photo is actually thanks to Elizabeth Cullen on Unsplash.

My volunteer teaching bombed for the first time. We have been having a great time talking about idioms. The students have been really engaged in the conversation, thinking critically about the paradoxes — until last week’s epic fail.

It all started when a nifty article popped up in my feed about 8 effective idioms for job interviews. I figured I’d have their attention at “job interview.”

My philosophy was that students were more likely to remember the idiom if they also learned where it comes from as well as how it is used today. That worked for “You missed the boat” and “There are other fish in the sea” and the like.

It didn’t work for "hit the ground running." I told them all about when I went paragliding in the Bavarian Alps and why hit the ground running saves you from breaking your legs on impact. My explanation went completely OVER THEIR HEADS (holy nightmare, Batman! Another idiom!).

This 10-second video didn't help. They were good and lost by the time I got around to the point, which is all they really need to know: “Hit the ground running means you can contribute from day one.” (In our conversation, I did learn that my coteacher Baya went parasailing in Tunisia.)

Next idiom: "ahead of the curve." I totally lost them again with my explanation of the bell curve and its multiple uses in real life. Sigh. I learned my lesson -- keep it simple.

My OVER-THE-TOP explanation (ack! another idiom! They’re everywhere!) reminded me of this: “If you ask [some people] what time it is, they’ll tell you how to build a watch.” (That’s from Pastor Stan Mitchell on “All Out in the Open,” which was an excellent podcast episode, by the way.)

In case you’re wondering, here are those 8 idioms for job interviews from that article:

1. I can think on my feet.

2. I go the extra mile.

3. I can hit the ground running.

4. I stay ahead of the curve.

5. A win-win situation.

6. I try to raise the bar.

7. I can see the big picture.

8. I think outside the box.

It’s not lost on me that idioms and idiots are just one letter apart. I’m feeling a little like an idiom idiot lately! Let’s see if I can do better this week teaching the other idioms. I promise that when I write another substack post, I won’t highlight every idiom and follow it with a pseudo-swear word.

Thanks to you, my friend, for joining the journey.

-Marci

(PS - new to this free substack? Read the backstory of this epic adventure here.)