I had an interview yesterday that left a much bigger impact on me than I expected. The kind of moment that makes you pause, reflect, and appreciate something fundamental that you may not have been actively thinking about.
Lately, I have been deeply involved in hiring at momoGood. Writing job descriptions, reviewing candidates, conducting interviews, completing scorecards. All the standard pieces that go into building a team. We are hiring for several key roles, and over the past week, I had conducted more than a dozen interviews. Then came yesterday.
It started like most others. I set the tone by explaining that we aim to hire people who are just as excited to join us as we are to bring them on. I shared our vision, our mission, and where we are going so the candidate could form an honest opinion about whether this is something they truly want. Very standard. Very routine.
Then I asked my first question. The response was thoughtful, clear, and grounded in purpose. A genuine interest in doing meaningful work. A passion for technology. A desire to be part of something that matters. All things you hope to hear, but also things you hear often.
Then I asked a more familiar question. "What are your top three weaknesses?"
Without hesitation, without filler, and with complete clarity, the candidate shared three things that, on paper, would likely disqualify them from the role. And that is when everything changed.
The level of self-awareness was striking. There was no attempt to reframe weaknesses as strengths. No polished, rehearsed answers. Just honest reflection. So I leaned in.
I asked one more question, carefully noting that they should only share what they felt comfortable sharing. What followed was deeply personal, vulnerable, and, in many hiring scenarios, likely disqualifying. Yet my reaction was the opposite.
What stood out was not the content of the answer, but the integrity behind it. The willingness to be honest. The courage to stay true to personal truths, even in a moment where there was something to gain by withholding them.
That earned my respect in a way few interviews ever have. Rather than recount every detail, I want to share a few takeaways that stayed with me.
Self-awareness and honesty are rare
We live in a world where it is easy to present a curated version of ourselves. It is easy to polish, filter, and shape a narrative. Over time, it can even become easy to believe that version. True self-awareness stands out. Real honesty stands out even more. In an interview setting, it may be the single most differentiating factor.
Staying true to your truths matters
It is not easy to talk about mistakes, setbacks, or defining moments that changed your path. Especially with someone you just met. But when someone does, and does so authentically, it signals strength of character. It shows integrity. It builds trust quickly and deeply.
Passion and purpose are powerful drivers
This conversation was also a reminder of why people seek meaningful work. Life experiences, challenges, and growth often push us toward things we genuinely care about. When someone is aligned with purpose, it shows. It is hard to fake, and even harder to ignore.
Foundational integrity is everything
Skills can be developed. Experience can be gained. But integrity sits at the core. Teams built on integrity are stronger, more resilient, and more aligned. It is something I saw firsthand in the past, and something I am committed to building again.
No matter how long you have been doing something, there are still moments that surprise you. This was one of them. Whether or not this individual ultimately joins our team, I am grateful for the reminder. A reminder of what truly matters. A reminder of the kind of people worth building with.
We are continuing to grow at momoGood and are always looking for great people. If this resonates with you, I would love to connect.
And if you have had a moment like this, one that caught you off guard in the best way, I would love to hear about it.
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