By Doug Beabout
 

 It's Monday morning, and our well intended applicant, dedicated to self-improvement and great interview results, is back from a conference where she attended a training session. This session was touted as a must attend event where one could learn all they needed to become a successful interviewee. People who had attended sessions delivered by this trainer raved about how great it. They claimed that they learned a great deal and that this trainer was extremely good with the audience. Every effort and due diligence about this session seemed to point out that if you wanted to become more productive, improve your skills, create job offers and invest your time wisely: this was a must-see event. Our applicant now facing a daunting challenge in the opportunity to “swim with the sharks”.
 

 As is often the case, this session was available, among others, at a weekend conference offered by an organization that is well-respected. Our applicant, bent on getting the best return on her investment and precious time, poured through the conference material, speaker bios and session descriptions to “cherry pick” those sessions that best addressed the areas where she felt she needed the greatest improvement to meet her goal of becoming a successful applicant. After careful consideration and gathering the opinions of others, she opted to attend the session. Since there were other sessions where she wanted to be in attendance there was a conflict in scheduling. The one session she felt compelled to attend was concurrent with another she wanted to visit. The “conference-meisters” wisely scheduled all speakers in back to back sessions, thus making it possible for people to attend the sessions where a scheduling conflict occurred. She wanted very much to attend the first of the two sessions offered by this coveted trainer, but so she could attend both sessions, she opted to attend the second one instead.
 

As soon as the first session she chose ended, she raced down the hall to assure herself of a good position at the doorway and a good seat during this crowded training session. This legendary trainer’s first session seemed to run over somewhat. Her anxiety brought about by waiting for her turn, was abated by the incredible enthusiasm, laughter, kudos and praises voiced by those departing the first session. Finally the room cleared out, and she had her chance. She raced to the front of the room grabbing a great seat. With handout, and notepad at the ready, the speaker stepped up on the platform.
 

The entire audience was fixated upon the trainer as a step by step, proven process was delivered. Details concerning the circumstances, the conditions and time-tested techiques were clearly explained by this eloquent speaker. The speaker’s style and humorous nature struck the heart chords of every applicant present. “This guy is funny” raced through the minds of many in the room. Insights in his anecdotes offered documented that this was a speaker who had real hands-on experience. The room burst into laughter every few minutes. Notes were taken furiously. Everyone swarmed the speaker with questions at the conclusion of the session. Training materials offered by the speaker were cleared off the table by eager applicants. Our applicant left confirmed in her decision to make this session a priority!