how much to disclose in an interview

glimmeringirl
Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:21:32 +0000

My daughter has her first interviews at 2 small lacs in a couple of weeks. My question is how much personal information to disclose is ok if it’s done in the non-whiney and interesting way she would use when talking about it. … ( she tends to be quite about this but will also talk frankly about it, if asked)

For instance- if she were asked about any challenging circumstances in her life no doubt the truth would be that she has an unusual dad who lives far away,( the only place he could get a job- 4 years ago- after being fired and home here, unemployed depressed for 5 years)) although he and I are not legally separated or ever intend to be. He is brilliant, and difficult, and an untreated bi polar whose instability and self centeredness, mixed with his love for her, has been a challenge for her to grow up with.

She has grown up dealing with this very erratic father, and meanwhile doing splendidly in her life.( with much much determination and motivation)She has some particularly mature views on life because of this, and has learned to look to her older brother and uncle as father figures at times. Also, in the last year her 2 beloved grandparents died- ( within 4 weeks of each other)and a big source of support to all of us- with them. .She was present around the time of their deaths and unbelievably giving to them.

If, by some chance, the question of personal challenges were to come out in an interview, could it be harmful for my daughter to converse about some of this? Also, I do not want a sense of our financial difficulties to come out in the interview… nonetheless, her determination and vision of herself as whole and ambitious comes partly out of her having to deal with these disruptions.

I am also wondering if any of this should come out in her essays next fall. I don’t believe she should capitalize on her father’s mental illness, and she would never think of writing an essay about it, but his instaiblity has been part of the fabric of her life and her strengths.

Perhaps some of you have also had these concerns about interviews and essays?