The interview was novel, because it took place in a conference room. The entire Litigation Support staff was on hand, and I was but a lone applicant trying to pitch myself before what amounted to an entire audience. As I am not a natural performer, by any stretch of the imagination, I found myself feeling quite intimidated. I tried not to show any fear or desperation. Quite to the contrary, experts often say that you should enter the interview room, whilst projecting a happy attitude and appear to be full of confidence. That is easy to do, when you are alone with the hiring manager. In that setting, at least you have privacy. Instead, I felt like a performer, sweating under the lights and before a potentially hostile crowd. For the record, the lights were fluorescent and the temperature was seventy two degrees, as per a normal business environment. The other occupants were pleasant, and for the most part were silent. It was difficult to gauge the reactions of everyone all at the same time. However, the pressure to give a grand performance was entirely real. I can still remember the experience to this day. Perhaps I shall never forget it. As I left the interview, the manager was sphinx-like in her demeanor. I could not tell whether I had impressed her or not. She merely thanked me and then she concluded the interview, not even indicating whether she would let me know if I would get the job or not. Of course, that is standard in these situations, but it most certainly added to my barely-concealed, nervous demeanor. Several weeks later, she contacted me by phone, indicating that I had indeed succeeded and was welcome to accept an offer. I was eager to work for her, and indirectly for the Federal Government. Weeks later, she called me to tell me that she was prepared to make an offer to work for her. I thanked her profusely, because it is a well-known truism that federal employees are often under-worked and overpaid. If these rumors turned out to be true, I wanted in on that action, too. Si I gladly accepted, barely concealing the joy in my voice.