Le formulaire - Overseas interview questions

Extraits du questionnaire que j'ai rempli quand j'ai postulé et avec lequel j'ai décroché un entretien.

Extract of my interview to get the job:

Which part of the race are you interested in and why?

I’m interested in leg 8 from New-York to London.

I started sailing with a regatta in the Solent 3 years ago. I discovered the passion of sailing and the magic of racing there. A year after, I sailed in Ireland and had the chance to turn the Fastnet rock under stormy weather. These places are emotional to me. With leg 8, starting from the big Apple and arriving where it all started for me would be quite motivating.

Since 4 years, I train to become a sailor and cross the Atlantic is one of my goals. What best than do this through a race, and not the worst, the clipper race!

1. The race is obviously a serious emotional, physical and financial commitment. How do you envisage managing this?

I learnt through my few sailing experience that emotion on a boat if they are not well managed can be a real issue. Fear would be my weakness. But I’m sure that with the training and the trust I will develop with the team I will get pass through it. It is also a challenge I want to take to push myself.

I’m not that a sportive but when I do have a regatta coming I have no issue to prepare myself to it. When you have the motivation and the willingness the body follows. The race is in 1 year from now and I would have enough time to prepare myself.

The financial part is huge but sailing is my passion, I spent a lot of money on it whatever. I do have the money today and as I say to my close friends, it is like buying a motorcycle but in better, to me at least ;)

This is something that will give me memories for life and will probably change my life. It worth it for sure!

1. Are your family / spouse supportive of your participation?

As I’m single without children, I think the timing is perfect for me to go to this adventure. My close friends and family really encourage me to do it as it is something “for me”. And I have friend that would walk with me for the departure and the arrival.

1. Describe your personality and temperament setting out your best and worst characteristics?

I’m shy in the first times but quickly when I get in trust I open myself. I like to exchange with people and people like to work with me. I always try to put things into context and perspective to avoid misunderstanding and overstressing.

I do have a quality that is that I always try to help other but it turns to be sometimes also to my disadvantage. Some people doesn’t like help and I have to adapt myself but sometimes natural comes back. But I work on it the best I can.

1. What do you suspect would be the hardest aspect of the race to cope with?

The hardest aspect would be a frightening storm on the middle of the Atlantic if it turns to be for a week!

I think that the sleep deprivation and the fatigue would also be something that will push my limits but this is the goal of this adventure!

1. How would you react to the lack of privacy onboard? Use examples.

During a cruise, the restroom is something not obvious to me when I’m with friends. On a racing boat since we are all fighting against the sea and against the other boats, it turns out to be the last of my concerns.

During my previous sailing week experience I didn’t have any specific issue to be always with someone.

During my studies I shared my room with roommates I didn’t know. The same shared sleeping room for 4 years. Believe me you learn a lot to accommodate to people’s company.

1. Have you any experience in living in conditions similar to that of a Round The World Yacht? Describe?

My first sailing experience was 5 days in the Solent with 7 male strangers. I discovered them during the travel from Grenoble to the airport. We shared the same boat, toilettes, showers and sleeping area. It was a lot of fun, some conflicts about the race but always good moments. It is one of my best memories. The team spirit, the desire to get faster than other and try to find the best trim for the sails or the crew position, I discovered and appreciated all of that. Sailing is a tough sport but also a really smart one. It is not trivial, I really like that aspect too.

1. What, if any annoying habits do you have?

I do eat my nails under stress.

1. How do you get on with different types of people?

I work with people from 23 to 55. I’ve also worked with American, English, Scottish, Chinese, Indian, German or Japanese for years. I’ve learned a lot from these different cultures. I adapt my communication to my interlocutor and try to identify the best way to get him to understand me. And of course I enjoy it.

During my sailing courses, I’ve met also a lot of people with different backgrounds and it is always a good opportunity to learn from them.

1. Would you consider yourself sociable, gregarious, loner?

I’m gregarious and people do consider me like that too. People often count on me to see each other.

1. What would you see as the worst characteristic in another person?

People who don’t try to understand the reaction of people or don’t listen and thus don’t solve the real problem.

1. What really annoys you?

Snoring people and injustice

1. When did you last lose your temper and why?

Last year during a trip I organised with my previous company sailing team, I had to manage people to get the return flight on time (tidying the boat, the bungalow, get the cars,…). A guy from the team was always claiming for “joking” I was a “real pain in the ass female” (excuse my French). Everyone else was confused but didn’t say a word since this guy was one of our director. As I was in charge and he was not, I had to raise my voice to make him follow me when he didn’t want to get to the airport in advance. I had to push him back to his place and get back my authority as trip responsible. This guy didn’t take me seriously. The saddest part is that offline the other told me they were OK with me and sorry for this guy attitude.

1. As routine can be monotonous, how is your boredom threshold? What would you do?

I have my own sailing logbook where I write my ideas and feelings. On a boat I can spent days doing nothing I’m just OK while sailing and so tired that I sleep if I’m not sailing. But also this kind of privacy helps speaking with others about anything and about you. You learn to know people you would never have if not under these conditions. I met a Swiss guy in Ireland 3 years ago and we are still supporting each other in our sailing projects. My Irish sailing instructor skipped my boat in Corsica last year for free and was really happy to meet my friends. You connect in a way that is not superficial.

1. How would you react to someone not participating fully?

If it is not my responsibility, I have nothing to say to him. I think that planning tasks in advance can avoid this kind of issue. If the person is really doing nothing, it is the responsibility of the skipper to redistribute tasks or motivate this person.

1. Do you have any experience of broken sleep patterns, how do you think you will adapt?

I will try it in a week with a straight sailing trip from Nantes to Lisbon.

Strong sleep deprivation should help to fall asleep easily after few days I guess.

1. Are you a diplomat / mediator when viewpoints differ or situations dictate?

I try to do my best to understand why the person is saying so to get the real issue and so treat the root cause of the problem. Fact base discussion is the easiest way to solve problem.

1. What would you see as your biggest achievement in life to date?

My participation to the Lorient stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012. I wanted to be part of this race and starting from nothing (no sailing or local network) with only my willingness to do it, I achieve something that is still bluffing me. I succeeded to be an interpreter at the media center, I visited 3 racing boats with full explanation from crew, exchanged with a lot a sailors and I also gave the price to Ken Read and Franck Cammas at the price giving ceremony after the in-port race. The final day I was invited to be part of the departure and I watch the race during 3h on the media boat. Pretty amazing to see these racing boats rounding buoy from that close!

1. What are you looking to get out of taking part in Clipper 13-14?

When I spoke to these Volvo ocean race sailors and visited these amazing racing boats I realized I wanted to be part of it. Of course I will never do the Volvo but the clipper race is where everything started with Sir Knox-Johnston. These sailors told me about the sleep deprivation, the noise, the cold, but all of them said “each time we do it we also say, we are never ever ever gonna do it again, but each time we sign for it again”. The shiny eyes and the passion when they were describing the experience was such an inspiration to me that I felt connected to their feelings. I want to face this kind of adventure too and live the race of my life.

1. Why should we select you over and above 20 other individuals applying for the same part of the race?

I’m not better than anyone the only thing is my honest and true motivation to do it. I discovered this race only 2-3 weeks ago, I never thought something like that could be possible. I think I can manage the lack of privacy, the physical and of course the emotional part.

Being part of a sailing team crossing the Atlantic ocean following such glorious sailors is something that has no price to me. My social behaviour and my willingness to achieve the best would probably help the team building and give energy in the tough moments.