Interviews

I got a phone call while writing my last blog post that made me realize I haven’t written much about the job searching process—which is kind of a big part of the “twenty-something” lifestyle.  So I figure I should tell you all a bit about how that’s going for me.

As you know, I have a job at Panera, where I work about 10-15 hours a week.  I also worked at a summer camp which recently ended.  And I’ve been applying for jobs throughout the summer.  I’ve now had three interviews, none of which have panned out. 

The first was for a proofreading job.  The interview went really well, and the people seemed to like me, but then they gave me “proofreading test.”  I think I’m a pretty okay writer, and I love editing my friends’ papers and stuff, but I’m no “proofreader.” I can pick up the easy things like run-on-sentences and spelling errors and most comma mistakes.  But when you give me a test on it, I start seeing mistakes that aren’t even there.  I haven’t heard from them since… so I guess that’s out.

That night, I was upset and flustered, so I started applying for random jobs on a whim, just sending my resume in an email.  One of them was for a “marketing coordinator” position.  People have always told me I’d be good at marketing, so I thought why not give it a try?  The next day they called me and asked for an interview.  I took the morning off from camp and drove the 30+ minutes to Woburn, only to spend about 10 minutes in the “interview” which was basically some guy telling me about the business.  Then I left, worried that a ten-minute interview wasn’t a good sign.  The next day they called me to confirm my second interview… Okay?  So I went in and met with two new guys who told me we were gonna drive a little ways down the street and do the interview there.  Are you creeped out? Because I was.  We walk out the door and I’m thinking am I going in a car with you or do I get to drive my own car? And where the fuck are we going? And why are there two of you? And I hope I can remember all of my RAD techniques…

I got to drive my own car, and I followed them down the highway to the nearest home depot.  That’s where I really found out what the “marketing” job was.  You know those people that walk around stores (like home depot) in business suits and offer you free promotions (like cabinet re-facing)? That was the job.  They explained to me how it worked and the hours: 11am-7pm weekdays and 9-4 on the weekends, and that I’d be making 8 bucks an hour (which is less than I make at Panera).  There was “opportunity to move up quickly,” but I decided pretty quickly that it just wasn’t for me.  I went back to my own car and we went back to the office.  There, I politely told them that I had to discuss it with my family and I would call them soon.  I went to work and all my coworkers were so excited that I got offered a job- ANY job.  They made me second guess my decision to say no.  But then I went home and talked it over with my family, and I realized my first instinct was right.  I called the guy back and said it wasn’t right for me.

Yesterday, I got another phone call for an interview.  A receptionist job I applied for on a whim (again).  I went in and before we even got started talking, she had me fill out paperwork including a W-4 form, which kinda freaked me out because I’ve only filled those out with contracts.  I soon realized that I was at a temp agency and the woman explained that they needed the form on file so when they placed me, I would be able to be paid immediately.  Then we talked about my experience and what kinds of jobs I would interested in, and she scribbled all over my resume.  Then it was over and she said she would contact me soon.

So, all in all, not terrible experiences, but I still don’t have a job.  None of these were what I was prepared for from the mock interviews at school.  But I guess that’s the 20-something life.