JOB INTERVIEW!

MONDAY: Yay, I finally got it today! It’s the 30th of August. The deadline was the 20th, and I turned it on the 12th. They left me a message at 8 something in the morning, and for some reason I didn’t get it until 1 in the afternoon. I asked if I could schedule mine for the 13th of September, but they only had August 31- September 2. I asked for 3:30 and she said okay, but called me back about an hour later and left me a message that said they only have 7-10AM. I called back (this was 2PM) and asked for the 10AM one, but in the amount of time I cleared it with my mom, that was gone too. I had to go with the 8:30AM one, which means I’ll have to be out the door by 6:30AM or something to beat the morning traffic. It so easily could have been September 1-3, so I’m not complaining much. As it is, I have less time to panic. I’ll just dress nicely tomorrow and dazzle them, hopefully!

TUESDAY: Still can’t believe my luck! I could so easily have had to pass up my interview time! I got out of bed at 5:25 or so today, got my hair and minimal makeup ready, dressed in my senior picture knit sweater (good thing it was cold in the morning or I would have looked stupid), black skinny jeans, and borrowed my sister’s black flats. They were too big, so I thought I’d remedy the problem by stuffing socks in the toes, but it was so hard to walk and my arch hurt after. I studied my interview book and my cheat sheet to remind of of my achievements and things until 8 or so. I left the car and started walking toward the Housing Center, met up with Shang for a few minutes and then went in at 8:15. That Lee’s girl was the receptionist and I sat there and waited for maybe 10 minutes. I already turned off my phone and couldn’t see the clock, so it was hard to tell. When Robert (I think) and Crystal, the girl I scheduled my interview with yesterday, came to get me, I forgot to throw out my gum, so I took it out and quickly stuck it to the clutch I was carrying. Ugh, that’s so gross, but I did what I had to do. I dropped the gum and got distracted a little into the interview, but found it after. Anyway, they asked me the usual things: talk about myself a little, my strengths, weaknesses, contributions, when I worked with limited supervision, when I dealt with a difficult customer, why I’m interested in the job. They asked me what I’d do in a scenario where the phone’s ringing, a person just walked in to ask a question, and a broken copy machine. My dad and I disagreed later, but I said to deal with the phone first after excusing myself from the person, then deal with the person. He said the person first. I don’t really remember what they asked me, but I said, “um,” a lot. Actually, it was more like, “UM!” and then I started answering the questions they asked. A number of times they asked two-part questions, and after answering the first part, I’d totally forget to address the second. I really could have articulated better, not rambled in some places, but I think I made up for a little of it by not sounding too nervous, being enthusiastic and having the background for the position. I was scared when he said they’re choosing only six people. If my calculations are correct, if they interviewed from 7AM- 3AM for three days, 24 people will be rejected. All in all, I was satisfied with my performance and quickly stumbled out of the room when excused, my feet hurting more and more. My dad got mad for keeping him waiting, but gosh, it’s not like I see Irvine people every day now, is it? I hope I am more patient than he is. My mom got to go to great-granddad’s thing today, and we stayed at the shop. I was feeling kind of good today because I did the best I could under the circumstances I was thrust upon. We went to the library and I was 30 or so pages from finishing up one of those chick books I read, and my dad didn’t have his library card with him. I used my driver’s license and asked the lady if I could recheck that book out under my card and she said no, it’s library policy. I went ahead and checked out the other books and asked when the pink book I was reading was due, and found out it was the day after we would get back. I apologized and changed my mind and asked to return it. She made my day when she said something along the lines of, you know what? Kindness goes a long way, with me anyway. I’ll go ahead and check this book out for you. I didn’t think I’d be happier than when I finally walked out of my interview, but something like this has never happened to me before! There was this warm and fuzzy feeling inside of me, and I felt like nothing could make me sad. She told me that most people would have been rude to her, and it’s wrong, but so true. I really and honestly like her, because of the sense of humor she showed last time when she laughed hysterically at something I accidentally said or something, and because of today. I know I looked really stupid, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I was that happy. I really want that job, but I think if I find out on Friday or the following Monday that I’m not selected, I won’t be as sad as I would be if it weren’t for the nice librarian. Small acts of kindness really do go a long way, and something seemingly insignificant a stranger had done for me changed me. I’m happy, and that’s not something I can honestly say every day.

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