I just had the big one, the interview I'd been looking forward to, well... since ever. I pulled out all the stops: I went to kinkos and printed off all my prized reports, had them bound, bought a new suit and new shoes and sat for a new hair cut.

And what happened?

It went stellar. Moreso than any interview I've ever had. I nailed every question, gave them a summary of my experiences and told them just how I'd be as an employee for them.

But Luck played a major role.

While talking about my former employer I filled with dread. No, I wasn't hiding anything. Nothing bad to say. As I went through my previous assignments from my last job I realized I'd left my references at home. Laser printer and neatly filed on my desk. I fought to keep my cool. Keep my eyes relaxed, and said a silent prayer to Christ that they wouldn't ask for my references. I could hear the Coop people saying it again, "Always bring your references to the Interview, failure to do so will result in you being screened out!"

The interview jetted passed, an hour in 5 minutes. They set questions up and I knocked them down. Finally he opened his briefcase.

My eyes did go wide this time. "A job offer? Already? Holy shit! I thought as I saw the emblem on the page, then calmed.... no.. it couldn't be. Relax Colum, this is the real world."

He leaned across the desk. "That was great.... Alright, now this is a post-interview form, essentially a follow-up form.... we outsource some of HR, so this goes to a third party company, just fill in your references, basic job descriptions and fax it off, we'll provide them with the rest and they'll follow up on everything....."

I could have screamed! Yes!! YES!! I love outsourcing!

Little did he or anyone else know. I was spared the embarrassment and the disaster of being found out. Coop Lady always says: "No references for interview = no job. A very simple equation my friends. Doesn't take an engineer to understand it, only a recruiter". Cue nerd Laughter.

I happily shook his hand and left.

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Now we'll see how well I hold up with competition from the likes of Waterloo, UBC, UoT, and McGill.

But being only one of 2 Mechanicals interviewed at Dalhousie, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Well regardless, I'm happy, ecstatic even, my fingers are crossed.