[lbotos]

I'll say: Oh, nice. What has your favorite contraption been? Sounds like you needed a break. What lead to that?

If I'm hiring you I need to assess three things:

- Can you do the work I need done?

- Do you want to do the work I need done for the time I need you to do it? (flight risk)

- Will you work well with others on the team?

In all of those answers I'm looking for: Will this person own their story and do I believe them?

[bruce511]

Broadly speaking you're right.

I'd add a 4th though -

Of the pool of successful applicants (there are usually more than one that satisfies your 3 points) are you feeling lucky? Often we have multiple candidates who would be perfect for a job, but ultimately only one post.

At the end of the day we pick one, and often it's more-or-less a coin flip one way or another.

Sometimes you just need a big of luck ..

[sillysaurusx]

Brilliant answer, and I hope OP sees it. They have nothing to worry about.