Gold S.T.A.R or too much Silver paper? : When job interviews feel like The Crystal Maze.
Gold S.T.A.R vs Consolation Silver : when Job Interviews feel like the Final Challenge in The Crystal Maze
I’ve found the perfect analogy for why I sometimes fall short in job interviews, and it came to me while watching an old episode of The Crystal Maze. Specifically, the final challenge in the Crystal Dome.
In the last task, contestants race against the clock inside a whirlwind of gold and silver paper. The goal is to collect as many gold leaves as possible. Each gold one adds to the team’s score, while each silver one deducts from it. The chaos, the pressure, the frantic grabbing — it suddenly all felt familiar.
That’s exactly how I handle interviews. Read on and let me know if this relates to you.
The gold leaves represent the strong, relevant content — clear examples of experience, well-structured answers, and key achievements. The things interviewers are really looking for. I like to think of these as GoldSTARs, borrowing from the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result), with extra emphasis on the parts that shine.
But then there’s the silver. The waffle. The over-explaining. The detail that drifts off topic, usually brought on by nerves or a desire to be thorough. It’s not bad in itself — it just adds clutter. And when there’s too much of it, it starts to cancel out the impact of the gold.
In interviews, I often go in full of energy, eager to show everything I know. But in the rush to fill the space, I sometimes overload my answers. I keep talking past the key point. What should be a clear GoldSTAR becomes buried in a pile of silver. And just like in the Dome, it costs me.
The thing is, Crystal Maze contestants who win that final task aren’t just energetic — they’re focused. They know to go for the gold and ignore the silver. They work with the time they have, not against it. And that’s exactly the mindset I’m adopting - trying to, anyway. It will take practice and some personal / personality self-management.
I’m learning to filter. To stop before the waffle kicks in. To trust that the gold will speak for itself without needing to be wrapped in extra sparkle. I’ve got the experience, the insight, the value — now it’s about presenting it cleanly, confidently, and clearly.
I’d love to know if you can relate, as well as your experiences and tactics for not falling into what can feel like a self-set trap.
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