The Peephole

I've gone on a handful of job interviews during the last few months.  Three were for minimum wage jobs and one was a little closer to my pr profession.  Not only were they good practice for me, two actually resulted in positions: at a wedding banquet facility and a local department store.  I'll get into more detail on these in later posts.

Today, I want to reminisce about a few job interviews that I've had in the past:

The Creepiest - When I was in high school, I desperately wanted to work at Friendly's.  I had heard some disparaging remarks about the manager - that he asked candidates to change into a uniform and peeked at them - but I chose to ignore these comments.  Guess what?  They were right on target!  I remember that my interview with the manager went quite quickly and it wasn't long before he asked me to try on a grey-and-white uniform.  He left the room.  As I changed, I could actually hear him climb what seemed like a ladder outside the room and create some rustling noises in the far corner.  I was so afraid to look up because I feared that I might actually see him watching me and lose the job (hey, I was young then ...)  I put on the uniform and - I swear this is true - I heard him climb back down the ladder. 

I finally felt comfortable enough to look in the direction of the sounds and dread overtook me.  I saw a peephole in the wall about three-inches in diameter.  He opened the door, told me that I had the job and left.  I was speechless.  Once he was gone, I caught my breath and - I'm not proud to admit this - I was a tiny bit pleased that I had passed muster.  Remember, I was a kid who needed a job.  I ended up working there for two years and enjoyed it, for the most part.  There were the occasional odd incidents that gave me pause:  a fellow employee sneezing into a giant tub of vanilla ice cream which he continued to use, and another who had no problem scooping when his arm was covered in poison ivy.  Ewwww!!!

Months after our encounter, the manager was arrested for loitering outside a dressing room in a nearby clothing store and was fired from Friendly's.  I didn't reveal to my family and friends what happened to me for quite a while because I was embarassed by the whole incident. 

The Most Productive -  I met my soon-to-be ex on a job interview.  Yes, I married my boss.  I don't actually remember much about the interview itself, except that I got the job, thought my future boss was cute and ended up marrying him.

Much of what went on between us in the months that followed wouldn't fly today because of the sensitivity to issues surrounding sexual harassment.  But we're talking about the eighties here, long before Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas.

I was editor/writer for publications that were mailed to serious coin collectors.  It was a fun job in downtown Boston made even more interesting by the dynamics between us ... except for the time when I wasn't pleased with my raise!  Let's just say my then-boyfriend didn't have a great weekend.

We got engaged while I worked there.  It was a small company and everyone was thrilled for us.  I think things would be very different today if we met on the job.

The Easiest - I just had to show up for this one.  During college, I traveled by bus to Washington, D.C., to interview for an internship as a reporter on Capitol Hill.  It was a fabulous opportunity and I wanted it to be mine.  I look back now and think that I was mildly insane.  I stayed overnight with a fellow UMass student and his roommate.  I had never met them and they put me up in their living room.  Nothing happened, but, boy, did I put myself in a vulnerable position!  The owner of the news service was so impressed I came down alone that he gave me the internship on the spot. 

I spent four months covering Congress for newspapers in Maine, Alaska and Massachusetts - an experience I'll never forget.  For me, one of the most exciting moments was attending a press conference at The White House with Jody Powell, who was press secretary for President Jimmy Carter. (During my stay, I also dated a 40+ reporter from Maine when I was a mere 20 years old.  I'll say no more on that topic.)

As I think about sharpening my skills for the interviews that I hope will come my way, I look back at some of my successes and failures over the years.  A job interview can be nervewracking and unpredictable.  Those with the best outcome have been when I exhibited confidence and was actually a good fit for the job.  This time around, I'll also need someone to give me a break, since I've been out of the work force for so long.  I'm optimistic, even in this economy, that the right job is out there waiting for me.  I just need patience and persistence.

I know one thing for sure:  I'll have to walk away if someone asks me to try on a uniform.