Performance Anxiety

The Obama administration is looking for a few good men (and women). Do you have what it takes to make it through the vetting process? If you happen to have copies of all of the resumes or biographical statements you've issued over the past ten years? Even that one you turned in to Starbucks while you were in college?

How about copies of any and all articles or books you have published, and links to any blog posts or comments you have made? No? Well you're already a few steps behind if you're planning on applying for a high-level job in the White House.

Thankfully, most of us won't go through the six-page application being e-mailed to prospective hires. The 63 requests for information include:

"If you have ever sent an electronic communication, including but not limited to email, text message or instant message, that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-Elect if it were made public, please describe."

"If you keep or have ever kept a diary that contains anything that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-Elect if it were made public, please describe."

Surprisingly, "Boxers or Briefs?" was left out.

While this hiring process might seem a bit extreme, it's a good reminder that you should bear in mind any job you want now or in the future when you're posting those pictures to Facebook or sending racy messages to your newest love interest over IM.

So...any skeletons in your closets that could hold you back from that dream job? Or do you have any advice for getting around tricky application questions?