The Mock Interviewer: Coaching Her into His Arms

My name is Sam, and I am the reason she is leaving me behind.

Maya wanted a job at a prestigious firm in London. For a month, I spent every evening acting as the hiring manager. I researched the company’s history, prepared 50-page dossiers on their board members, and ran her through mock interviews until 2:00 AM. I critiqued her posture, her tone, and her answers. I was so hard on her because I wanted her to be perfect.

She got the job. At the celebration dinner, she introduced me to Oliver, the senior partner who had interviewed her. "Sam was my secret weapon!" she told him. Oliver laughed and squeezed her hand. "Well, Sam, you did too good a job. I’m taking her to our Dubai office next month to lead the new team." I watched them toast to their future—a future built on the hours of labor I gave for free. I coached her so well that she became too good for the life we had together.