Yesterday, I showed up for my hundred millionth interview for a career that I'm, apparently, no longer suited for. This is the question that I flubbed:

"What's the latest hot cool new thing?"

Dudes love "cool." I think I deleted my post about the job filled with guys whose sole creative direction was to make said work, "more cool-looking."

"I tend to start with thinking about what people need..."

I think if I had said "Atari" that would have been closer to the right answer. Did Mark Zuckerberg sit down to code "something cool?" No, the world made it cool, he just set the stage by thinking about what people want.

I went on another interview, and I won't say who the client was, but the product's name refers to a fruit that comes in the colors of green and red.

"What's your favorite banner ad campaign for [brand name]?"

"What?! They had a banner campaign? Or is that a trick question?"

Realness is not a quality sought in this job market.

I came home from the last interview and found two checks in the mail. I took it as a sign to stay the course that I'm on, and that is working to become a user experience designer.

Just for today, I am humbled by my lack of control in life.