Can you make an impression at an interview, such that they wish to hire you on the spot?

Yes.

And my experience has taught me the following:

Preparation works.

An interview can make up for a less than ideal resume.

Interviews are performances.

Presenting a unique hook can be the tie-breaker between you and another candidate.

I have used different tie-breaker hooks at different times.

A hook I call the “triple hatter” hook landed me assignments at Epicor and White Hat Security.

More about this hook:

Minoo Jha

 · 3y

What are the best/innovative ways to introduce yourself to anybody?

Triple Hatter After reading Richard Nelson Bolles’ What Color is Your Parachute?, I found myself doing some soul searching. I thought about my past, my present and my future - all the colors and threads which were the patchwork of my life. And then I wrote a one page “dare to share” piece about myself, I titled Triple Hatter. I created it as something I would leave behind at an interview. I would hand it over to the interviewer at the end of the interview and say “This will tell you things about me that may not have been caught or covered in the interview”. If I was interviewed by 3 people in turn, I would hand out a copy to each of the interviewers as they left the room. I am sharing Triple Hatter with you. I hope it will motivate you to read What Color is Your Parachute? (when you get a chance) but more importantly, to learn to accept who you are in your entirety (past, present and future)... ... and then to “dare to share” everything you are with the world. Read Triple Hatter. Then go write your own Triple Hatter. And start sharing it with the world…. Triple Hatter One Gal. 3 Hats. I am a Commissions Analyst who writes advertising copy and a blog. I am a Copywriter who does Commissions Administrations and Implementations. I am a Commissions Admin who does Xactly Implementations You could call me a Triple Hatter. One Gal. 3 Hats. Solution Partners Inc, Los Gatos This is where I picked up my Implementations Hat. I said goodbye to fear and a regular paycheck when I signed up to be a contract Business Architect with Solution Partners and do Xactly Incent Implementations for different companies. 2 years and 4 projects later (including two 3-month stints at Salesforce Inc) – I am still entranced with the nuts and bolts of the Xactly Incent Commissions Machine. And now I can’t wait to see what it’s like to work both sides of the equation – the administration side and the implementation side. Which company will provide me with the opportunity to put both these skills to work? It’s exciting to speculate and wonder. Extreme Networks, Santa Clara This is where the Commissions Admin Experience I had gained at Palm was put to the test. And my ideas about my skills and traits. Excel whiz. Good at picking up new software. Accurate. Deadline Oriented. Dependable. I was there 5 years and had a fantastic relationship with my boss. Need I say more? Palm Inc This is where I got my training wheels as a Commissions Admin. No sooner did my boss sign me on to assist with commissions, when she went out on Maternity Leave. And never returned. So I was Palm’s one-woman commissions team from that point on. Of course, this meant I needed to take off my training wheels ASAP. Staying up nights with multiple Excel books, I did. It paid off. Minoo Jha Life Strategies My writing hat. It’s my oldest hat. Writing comes naturally. As flying to a bird. For a while, it looked like I had a broken wing. But when in December of 2010, I started blogging, I knew I was back in the groove. I write the Minoo Jha Life Strategies blog. Posting regularly to it, inviting guest posts and promoting it via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Triple Hatter. That’s me.

Using “triple hatter” as an example, you can craft your own tie-breaker hook, to stand out from other interview candidates.

One suggestion for a tie-breaker hook is to create a one-pager titled “What My Mentors Have Taught Me”. Try to list at least 7–10 things on it.

When the interview is complete, hand a copy of your “What My Mentors Have Taught Me” one-pager to the interviewer, and say to them, "I would like to leave behind a short note detailing what my professional and personal mentors have taught me" and exit the room. Let them read it after you have left.

Since other candidates are not likely to have something like that in their tool kit, you will be sure to stand out from the other candidates, even though their resumes are similar to yours.

Once again, in my experience…

Preparation works.

An interview can make up for a less than ideal resume.

Interviews are performances.

Presenting a unique hook can be the tie-breaker between you and another candidate.

With Every Year

With every year, a softer light

Will settle on our edges bright.

We glow with a gentler flame,

A deeper strength is ours to claim.

We learn that wisdom rarely shouts—

It listens more, and leaves some doubts.

It grows in silence, thrives in grace,

And shows its lines across our face.

We trade quick answers for the true,

We let go of “more” so peace shines through

Our pace may slow, but not our fire—

We burn with a quieter, stronger desire.

The mirror may reflect our years,

The changes shaped by time, joy and tears,

But in our eyes still shines a steady gleam—

The kind that's earned, not found in dreams.

And our legacy? Not a throne—

Not built of marble, gold, or precious stone

But left in words of kindness or fun

Examples and insights passed from one to one.

Our stories told at kitchen chairs,

Or in gardens grown with tender care,

Sometimes shared in walks beneath rows of trees,

And simple, thoughtful ways to please.

Our journey is not marked complete

By fading steps or slowed heartbeat—

But by the lives our life has stirred,

The truths we've lived, the hearts we've heard.

And when at last we take our rest,

Let it be said: we gave our best.

Let it be known, and softly sung—

Our journey ends... but not our song.

What should I focus on in my early 30s, work, relationships, health/fitness, or business?

Look upon each of those things - work, relationships, health, and business as the 4 pillars of your life, and pay attention to each one of them.

If you ignore your work, you risk wasting your most energetic, most productive years. These are the years when you build skills, credibility, and momentum. Don't squander them.

If you neglect (or stress) your relationships, friends will either quietly or abruptly drift away. Over time, isolation will creep in —not all at once, but gradually, until one day, you feel very alone.

If you overlook your health, you may not feel the consequences right away. But health issues will surface—and when they do, they'll interfere not only with work, but with your ability to enjoy life at all.

Finally, don’t rule out the idea of starting a business.

The best time to take that leap is often in your 30s—when you’ve gained enough experience, developed discipline, and built some financial stability. If done thoughtfully, it can become your long-term wealth and freedom play.

Think of it this way:

Health is the base.

Relationships are the soul.

Career is the engine.

Business is the long-term investment.

Other Areas to Pay Attention To:

Habits

Your daily habits shape your future. Left unchecked, some habits can quietly become destructive:

A casual drinking habit can become alcoholism.

Occasional drug use can become addiction.

Recreational gambling can spiral into loss and regret.

Don’t wait for a wake-up call. If something feels off, cut it down—or cut it out.

Money Management

Make money a pillar, not a stressor. Smart money habits don’t require wealth—just awareness and discipline:

Spend less than you earn.

Save and invest consistently.

Avoid or minimize debt.

Understand your tax responsibilities.

Learn basic investing principles—and use them.

Mastering money gives you options. It reduces stress. It gives you breathing room when life gets hard.

Hobbies and Joy

A meaningful life isn’t all structure and strategy. Make room for joy. Hobbies give your mind space to rest and your spirit space to grow.

Aim for at least one low-cost, high-joy hobby—like reading, writing, walking, or catching up with friends. Some of the best moments in life are simple, inexpensive, and shared.

Meet up to work out, to talk, to laugh—or even to pray together. These moments fuel the soul.

This is just one suggested recipe for a fulfilling life.

You don’t have to follow it perfectly. In fact, you should design your own version—add your own ingredients and steps. Make it something that speaks to you.

The important part isn’t that it’s original.

The important part is that you take ownership of it.

How Do You Stay On Track?

There’s one simple thing you can do:

Write a letter to your future self.

Include your intentions, your values, your goals—and your reminders. Frame it. Hang it somewhere you’ll see it every day. Let it anchor you when life gets noisy or messy.

Because it will. But if you’ve got a clear recipe—and you own it—

you’ll know exactly how to find your way back.

Cheers to building a life you’re proud of.

To summarize...

Health = the base.

Relationships = the soul.

Career = the engine.

Business = the long-term play.

And habits, money management, and joyful activities are not to be ignored.

When We Pray

                                                                                 

When we pray,

we must not only pray for the souls and illnesses of others,
but for the fears and weaknesses within ourselves.

When we pray,

we must pray for humility—
to remember that as certain as we are of what is right,
others are just as certain too.

When we pray,

we must ask our God, our gods, or our own willpower
to help us resist the temptations
that erode our relationships,
our health,
our purpose.

When we pray,

we must ask for the strength
to rise above our fears and phobias—
so we may fully embrace
the beauty and richness life offers.

When we pray,

we must pray for wisdom—
not just to accept our blessings,
but to find grace when others receive what we desired,
even when it seems to come at our expense.

When we pray,

we must pray
to soften our sensitivity,
to steady our reactions
to the slights and stings that are—more often than not—unintentional.

When we pray,

we must pray
to be fair in our dealings,
to temper our suspicions,
and not let our insecurities
poison our perceptions of others.

In other words,

when we pray,

we must pray
for the awareness to see
when we are being greedy,
when we are being cruel,
when we are being disrespectful.

We must pray.

When we pray,

we must ask
to release our closed-mindedness—
so we may truly hear others,
even those whose beliefs differ from ours,
without offense,
without judgment,
without the urge to convert or correct.

We must pray,

to become better versions of ourselves.
Because a better version of ourselves
will do more good in the world
than any prayer alone.

This—this is what we should pray for.

We must pray.

There are said to be 108 human weaknesses.
We must name the ones we carry—
the ones that drive wedges between us and others—
and pray not to hide them,
but to heal them.

We must pray.

Is it appropriate for someone to claim they are "great" at something, even if they are not as skilled as others in that field?

Sometimes a declaration leads to delivery.

If you state something, you are more likely to deliver on it.

People in business do this all the time.

They take on ambitious projects (bigger than what they have ever done), pulling in all the resources they need after taking up the project.

As a freelancer (in commissions administration), I do that as well.

When asked during the interview, “Do you think you can do this?”, this is what I say:

“I am not sure. I think I should be able to do it, based on my experience and skills. But both you and me will both find out if I can do it, at the end of the first week itself.”

In this way, I make the interviewer feel more confident about hiring me.

It is a strategy that combines humility and confidence.

Combine humility and confidence, and you will be able to respond to more opportunities, including challenging ones.

Don’t hope to just luck out, when it comes to job or business opportunities.

Turn luck into pluck, by saying yes to challenging opportunities.

Doers vs Dreamers

If we just dream and never do, our steps are lost,
We wander aimlessly, untouched by cost.
Without decisions, our world will stay,
Stagnant and still, as day follows day.

Unsolved problems linger and wait,
Dreams deferred, sealed by fate.
Longings stay longings, trapped in schemes
Buried in the wreckage of forgotten dreams.

But the “doer” rises bravely,  bold and bright
Chasing tomorrow, daring the night.
Even in fear, even in pain,
The "doer" says yes to life, again and again.

The "doer" sets goals, no matter the past,
Moving forward, breaking the cast
With every choice, they forge their way,
Determined to seize a better day.

The “doer” holds hope, in spite of past defeats,
Throwing themselves at life's new opportunities and heartbeats.
Ever hopeful, relentless, the doer rises once more—
To catch the new dreams they are destined for.

When we sit and talk...

For all the people with whom I sit and talk....

When we sit and talk
We trade stories like cards on the table,
Some worn at the edges, some fresh and bold,
Each one shaping the way we see.

I hear what keeps you up at night,
You hear what gets me out of bed.
We swap questions with no easy answers,
And laugh when none are needed.

When we sit and talk
There’s no rush to get it right.
Just words, just thoughts, just us—
Figuring it out as we go.

When we sit and talk
Ideas bounce and shift like tides,
Some drift away before they land,
Some stick around and make us think.

I catch the way your brow pulls tight
When something doesn’t sit quite right.
You notice when my voice drops low,
A sign I’m holding something back.

When we sit and talk
It’s not about fixing, proving, winning—
Just sorting through the noise of life,
Finding clarity where we can.

And when the words run out, that’s fine.
Silence doesn’t mean the moment’s done.
It just means we’ve said enough for now—
Until next time.

The Small Things by Vikram Bhaskaran

I used to brush past the day—
the soft swirl of steam rising from your morning chai,
the way light drifted in through the French windows
in our Benson Town home,
bougainvillea nodding in the soft Bangalore sun,
your sari rustling faintly as you moved
from one room to another.

I never knew how loud the small things were.

The hush of dawn before you left for Trident,
your breath steady as a weaving loom,
moving through the rhythm of Bangalore traffic,
your presence still lingering in the hallways
long after the front door closed.

Your voice, calling from the kitchen,
asking if I’d eaten.
The quiet clink of cups
as you poured tea for two.

I never knew how loud the small things were.

But memory—
memory is not a photograph.
It is light scattered through a prism,
shards of a whole,
fragments repeating, fractaling—
each one holding a world.

I see you now,
five years old in 1958,
clutching your schoolbooks in small hands,
your mother Mercy speaking gently to every child,
her kindness wrapped around your lunch like a napkin.

Banana to settle the stomach,
apple slices gleaming like glass,
guava, peaches—one fruit for each of you,
a quiet abundance lined on a bench
in the school parlor of Good Shepherd.

Six lunches arriving from Richmond Town,
still warm, carried with care.
A cup of milk placed next to every meal.
And for dessert—
one small, perfect Lacto Bonbon,
melting slow under your tongue,
sweetness lingering through the afternoon.

I never knew how loud the small things were.

The rustle of your mother’s sari
as she checked on every child:
Did you eat enough? Did you take your medicine?
Her worry a soft hum beneath the clatter of dishes.
Her love measured in teaspoons and napkins,
in fruit divided six ways.

Your classmate Jill,
lining up onions at the side of her plate—
a tiny rebellion against the rasam.
And the hush after lunch,
when games began and the cook packed up the leftovers—
everything clean, everyone fed.

I see you lying on your bed,
pulling one string up and down,
up and down, until sleep took you.
Your childhood a quilt sewn from these threads—
milk and steam, kindness and guava,
black tea going strong,
love wrapped in the ordinary.

Now I know—
we live many lives in one skin,
each memory folding into the next
like the layers of a sari,
fluid, beautiful, precise.

Even you, even I,
are made of the quiet ash of dead stars,
scattered into light.

I never knew how loud the small things were—
until they quieted,
and I learned to listen
with my whole life.

One lacto Bon Bon without end.

The Wisdom of Her Ways

Live life to the fullest, she says,
like the sun stretching its golden arms at dawn —
And she does.
__
See beauty in everything, she says,
in raindrops dancing on windowpanes,
or the quiet bloom of a wildflower —
And she does.
__
Be ready with a smile, she says,
a soft curve of hope, even when storms gather —
And she does.
__
See every sunrise as a new beginning, she says,
a canvas washed clean by the night —
And she does.
__
Turn wounds into wisdom, she says,
like kintsugi — the art of golden scars —
And she does.
__
To forgive is as important as to give, she says,
letting go like leaves surrendering to autumn —
And she does.
__
Rise by lifting others, she says,
her hands a steady bridge over troubled waters —
And she does.
__
Choose to see the good in every situation, she says,
like tracing constellations in a dark sky —
And she does.
__
Throw oneself at life with enthusiasm, she says,
like a child running barefoot through summer fields —
And she does.
__
Treasure the journey of life, she says,
as if each step leaves a glowing footprint behind —
And she does.
__
Embrace the challenge, conquer it, she says,
like a mountain climber who sees the peak not as an end, but a beginning —
And she does.
__
Spread good vibes, she says,
like ripples on a quiet pond, reaching further than the eye can see
And she does.
__
These are the wisdom of her ways.

A quiet reminder, day by day,

That though the road be long or steep,

Faith, hope, will, and love conquer all.

Uplift

by Vikram Bhaskaran,

Friday, Feb 28, 2025

She says it, clear as the breath between tides,

a feather of sound, weightless on her tongue—
uplift.

I hold the word in my hands like a fledgling,
fragile, astonished at its own wings.
Outside, the late afternoon drapes itself in gold,
branches loosening their grip on light.

For days, silence pressed against the walls,
the hush of machines, the slow count of heartbeats.
But now, this single word—
a wind rising beneath the bones of the world.

Somewhere, the planets are pulling into place,
a slow and silent gathering—
not a perfect line, but near enough,
a moment when gravity holds its breath.

I see it everywhere
how even the smallest voice can call the stars to order.

I want to tell her—
how words are ladders, how even one
can unfurl into flight.

She closes her eyes,
but I know she feels it too—
the lift, the lightness,
the quiet promise of upward.

The Knowing In Your Eyes

Amazing
Awesome
Accomplished
Admirable
You are this and more!

__

Amiable
Active
Approachable
Affable
You are this and more!

__

Balanced
Breezy
Big-hearted
Bubbly
You are this and more!

__

Bold
Brainy
Brawny
Bright
You are this and more!

__

Carefree
Classy
Cheerful
Conscientious
You are this and more!

__

Contented
Confident
Charismatic
Curious
You are this and more!

__

I see the light within you, dear sis,
As I hold your hand — gentle, yet unwavering.
In the quiet strength of your gaze,
In the soft words you speak, I feel your spirit rise.

__

You are speaking to us, softly but surely,
Letting us know that brighter days are ahead
Even through the storm, your courage shines,
Showing us that after every storm, the colors of hope appear...

... a quiet rainbow reflected in your eyes.

The Light and the Leaving

by Vikram Bhaskaran

I sit by her bed, the air thick with waiting,

machines whispering their steady song.
Night presses in like a great black wing,
but somewhere, far off, light spills
through a high cathedral window,
gold drifting like dust over stone.

I do not know how to hold this—
the weight of her hand,
the hush of her breath,
the way the world tilts
between staying and leaving.

Outside, the streetlights flicker.
Inside, I close my eyes and see her
young, laughing, lifting me high
beneath a Bangalore summer sky.

A tambourine shakes in the wind,
a sound like prayer, like longing,
like something rising beyond what I can name.

And then—her lips part,
her voice, thin as a thread,
finds its way through the hush.
*Yes*

A single syllable,
but in it, a whole life—
a promise, a surrender,
a hand reaching toward the light.

God, if you are here,
if you are anywhere,
let your light spill over her,
let it pour through the cracks,
let it carry her gently
into whatever waits beyond the dark.

I open my eyes.
Her fingers are warm in mine.
And for now, just for now—
she is still here.

Wake up, dear

Wake up, dear

The sun is shining,
The birds are singing,
A gentle breeze whispers your name.
The world is waiting to say hello.

Wake up, dear
There are words to share,
Melodies to hum,
Prayers to send skyward like drifting petals.

Wake up, dear
Your coffee is brewing,
Its rich aroma filling the air.
The dog waits by the door, tail wagging—
He knows the morning is incomplete without you.

Wake up, dear
There’s a wedding to go to soon —
Laughter to share, memories to weave.
What will you wear? Where shall we stay?
These moments, and more are waiting.

Wake up, dear
Little voices call your name,
Eager to tell you stories of school and play.
There are videos to watch, pictures to admire,
Messages of love sent just for you.

Wake up, dear
There’s a book half-read and a song half-sung,
A story only you can tell.
We’re waiting, listening, hoping—
For your voice to bring them to life again.

I Am Not Alone

I've known the shyness of saying hi

I've known the sadness of saying goodbye.
I've known the fear of boarding a plane,
I've known the gloom of being drenched in the rain.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the impatience of waiting in line,
The flush of fever, the ache of decline.
I've known the sting of being told I'm not good enough,
The shame of mistakes, of losing or breaking stuff.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the weight of a love unreturned,
The ache of a dream that crashes and burns.
I've known the silence of having no one near,
The shadow of longing that never disappears.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the shame of being let go, or fired,
Despite my efforts, exhausted and tired.
I've known what it is to have my hopes worn thin
To find my place, but to lose once again.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the pangs of words said in a fight,
The whisper of regrets stealing my nights.

I've known the pressure of time racing fast,
The wish to hold on, to make moments last.

And I know I am not alone,
For every heart has felt its own.
Through loss and doubt, through fear and pain,
We rise, we heal, we smile again.

Lessons in Enough

I thought I needed to earn more money.
Until I realized, I needed to do better things with my money.

I thought I needed more time.
Until I realized, I needed to do better things with my time.

I thought I needed more friends.
Until I realized, I needed to love and appreciate the friends I have, more fully.

I thought I needed more vigor and health.
Until I realized, I needed to make the best of the vigor and health, I already have.

I thought I needed more possessions.
Until I realized, I needed to cherish what I already own.

I thought I needed more thrills.
Until I realized, I just needed to look at the sky, to listen to a piece of music, or to watch a pet, to feel those thrills.

I thought I needed more wins.
Until I realized, how I handled insults, failures, and losses was far more important than wins.

I thought I needed more status.
Until I realized, respect comes from character, not titles.

I thought I needed more sophistication.
Until I realized, authenticity is the truest form of elegance.

I thought I needed more attention.
Until I realized, true fulfillment comes from giving attention, not receiving it.

I thought I needed more love.
Until I realized, I needed to show more gratitude for all the love and blessings I have received.

I thought I needed more control.
Until I realized, peace comes from letting go.

I thought I needed more of everything.
Until I realized, instead of yearning and grasping, all I truly needed was to appreciate what I already have. And that, in itself, is plenty.

Sandcastles by the Sea

I need a place to play,

I need a place to pray.

I need a place to talk,
I need a place to walk.

I need a place to sow,
I need a place to grow.

I need a place to read,
I need a place to bead.

I need a place to think,
I need a place to drink.

I need a place to dance,
I need a place to prance.

I need a place to breathe,
I need a place to grieve.

I need a place to eat,

I need a place to meet.

I need a place to dream,

I need a place to steam.

I need a place to move.

I need a place to groove.

And then I realize,
That all is exactly as it should be.
Joy, abundance, awe, and love surround me—
A life that fits me perfectly.

And so, dear reader,
I live each day quietly and simply,
And I let the waves of life wash away the sandcastles of longing,
Leaving fresh shores behind for me.

With a friend by my side

The road is less bumpy

With a friend by my side.
__

The hill is less steep

With a friend by my side.
__

The day is more sunny

With a friend by my side.
__

The sky is less cloudy

With a friend by my side.
__

The stars shine more bright

With a friend by my side.
__

The music is richer

With a friend by my side.
__

The sights are more fun

With a friend by my side.
__

The meals are more pleasurable

With a friend by my side.
__

The adventures are more engaging

With a friend by my side.
__

The darkness is less scary

With a friend by my side.

__

The shadows are not so spooky

With a friend by my side.

__

The world is a warmer, friendlier, place

With a friend by my side.
__

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

You are truly, one of life's treasures.

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Knowing you has been one of my life's greatest pleasures.
__

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

I am so grateful life threw us together.

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

I am so glad we've known each other, like almost forever.
__

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

So we can continue to meet, talk, say hello, or do things together.

I look forward to plenty more of that, with you.
__

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

For if truth be told, I would not alter.

A single word of the history, of me and you.
__

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

My world would be - well, I cannot even imagine what it would be.

If not for the presence in it, of friends like you.
__

Stay well, my friends,

Stay well!

There's a comfort in the familiar

There's a comfort in the familiar
Which to each of us, is understandable and plain.
The worn sweater, the frayed nightdress
Someone calling us by a special name.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
The favorite chair on which we sit.
Our favorite tea, the first thing we do, when we wake up
The flow of our daily routines and habits.

_

There's a comfort in the familiar.
The sights and sounds of our day.
The tv stations we watch, the music channels we listen to
All we do, as we work, and as we play.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
Tending to the plants and animals in our care.
Opening the blinds to let in the sunshine
Opening the window to let in some air.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
The people we run into regularly at different places.
The gal at the grocery store, the person at the pharmacy
The strangers in our lives, who have become well-known faces.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
In talking to, or meeting, those who know us best.
Those who know the victories we have celebrated, and the losses we have mourned
And whose knowledge, wisdom, support, comfort, or company, have seen us through life's ups and downs, and its tests.
_

Yes, there's a comfort in the familiar
And it's time to give thanks, where thanks are due.
So without further delay, let me express gratitude for all, and everything, that's a familiar part of my life
And guess what - that includes you!

_

Thank you for being a part of my life, and wishing you the very best for 2025!