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mama needs a drink
I finally had The Interview today. Holy wow, my nerves. I spent most of yesterday, with the help of my darlin' friend Ang, trying to eek out a writing sample on something geeky. It’s funny, I’m a geek all of the time everyday of my life and I write constantly and yet I was up past midnight working on this one page that was still not my best effort. Or even my second best. I don’t think it bodes well for me as a writer to not be able to write “on demand.”
It was a lunch interview. I dread these things. They’ll be ordering steaks and I’ll ask for “a bowl of sticks and twigs with the dressing on the side” or I’ll do something retarded like order a whole artichoke in a bowl of broth and spend the entire meal slurping the food dripping down my face like I once did on a first date. Shudder.
I walked into an office of people in jeans flagrantly IM-ing and making dinner plans from Zagat guides in my working stiff getup. And to think how I obsessed over my interview attire! It took me more than twice my usual time to get ready and god forbid I had a single hair our of place or my collar did not lay down properly or my manicure was chipped and I ended up (horror) interviewing with someone like me. When I got home and realized I had street juice splattered up the back of my shins the whole time, my inner perfectionist fainted in horror. (See Picture.)
I want this job. Well, technically, I want any job that is not my current one but really – I WANT THIS JOB. This job was made for me. It’s what I have been looking for for nearly a year now; it matches my skills perfectly. It has room for growth. They don’t care about my limited experience. How can I make them love me?
And here’s the Really Brave and Totally Different thing that I did over lunch (at a Thai restaurant, because they were both vegetarians, sigh). I said, “In the interest of disclosure, I want to let the two of you know that I maintain a personal website that contains some of my writing and photographs. I hope this is not considered a mark against me or a conflict of interest.” Maybe I didn’t have to say it, but it was so refreshing to be straightforward for once – how many people get to do that at work? They were totally cool with it. They said lots of people in the office maintained weblogs. I nearly hugged them.
So, I know this post lacks cohesion and segues and other marks of decent writing, but it’s all I’ve got left after a long week. Just keep wishing me luck, okay?
comments (22)
got everything crossable crossed for you! you got it in the bag!
1 | freydo | February 4, 2005 03:35 PM
bon chance!
2 | Margot | February 4, 2005 04:01 PM
Can I suggest a Maker's Mark and Coke?
3 | Master Foley | February 4, 2005 04:21 PM
Break a leg! What kind of job is it?
4 | jocelyn | February 4, 2005 04:29 PM
Sending good vibes your way!
5 | Wicked H | February 4, 2005 04:51 PM
So much luck coming your way you're going to be bowled over!
6 | Bond Girl | February 4, 2005 05:15 PM
It's a job writing about cupcakes, right?
7 | Greg | February 4, 2005 05:18 PM
Wishing you luck: I've got my fingers Jewish starred for you.
8 | Esther | February 4, 2005 05:31 PM
lykke til
9 | Nils | February 4, 2005 05:51 PM
Bonne chance, kiddo.
10 | Mathieu | February 4, 2005 05:51 PM
Thanks Greg for reminding me that it's not THAT much of a dream job!!
11 | deb | February 4, 2005 05:54 PM
Good luck! And way to go on taking a chance and telling them about the blog -- it totally worked to make them see just how much you are totally their kind of girl!
12 | SuperSpecialk | February 4, 2005 06:11 PM
luck luck luck!!!!
13 | muffy | February 4, 2005 06:36 PM
Wow! Very brave of you to dislose about your site. I just sent in a resume for a "academic computer technician" job at a nearby Catholic university and did everything I could to make sure that nothing led them directly to my site. Granted, they could find me with a one nanosecond Google search but I didn't want any big, flashing arrows, you know? Which is also why I deleted the two posts ABOUT the job I'm applying for. Maybe I'll be brave enough to disclose about my site (which I don't think has anything THAT bad in it but .. it is a Catholic University)
Anyway, cute shoes! And good luck (not that you NEED luck!) *sends good luck vibes dripping in street juice*
14 | colleen | February 4, 2005 06:57 PM
Good Luck
15 | Tammi | February 4, 2005 08:23 PM
Colleen, do not tell a Catholic University that you maintain a blog if at all possible. Whenever your work is for the Church, you are required to sign some sort of personal conduct code (at least I was) which states that you can be terminated if you are found to be breaking major Church teachings in 'Public'. I think the internet is public. I dunno if this will apply to you, but I'm pretty sure it's the reason my health insurance wouldn't pay for my IUD.
16 | aliastaken | February 5, 2005 10:18 AM
I think that being able to wear jeans and use IM are my new job search criteria. Good luck!
17 | HER | February 5, 2005 12:32 PM
dude, you are obviously in need of a break. you used the phrase "the back of my shins." that is possibly weirdest description of human body parts I've ever seen.
here, sit down and have a cocktail, it's on the house.
18 | ej | February 5, 2005 03:19 PM
Wow, I just now realized (2 pints of Stella, 2 glasses of wine, and one mimosa later) that I was actually describing a body part known as my calves. Sometimes, I even scare myself.
19 | deb | February 5, 2005 04:50 PM
Good luck!! I can't think of a better person who deserves this job.
And yes, we call them calves :)
20 | Dating Dummy | February 5, 2005 07:02 PM
Deb: Don't worry about your interviewers seeing the stuff on your leg. I think that most interviewers are often as nervous as interviewees, those that aren't on a huge ego trip anyway....
I recall just frantically thinking I'd miss that one hint that they were the perfect hire or my next worst nightmare. It's kinda like dating....
A great thing is that you gave them soemthing to remmeber you by... soemtimes distinction is what wins the next interview.
Hope you'll be gettig "the call" soon!
21 | runningfaster | February 6, 2005 07:48 PM
Okay!
Also, another Spamusement comic that reminded me of you. How mean! Let's hope noone uses this. :-)
22 | Aristotle | February 7, 2005 02:53 PM