Friday, August 21, 2009

Interviews Suck

The last seven days have been pretty busy. Lots of driving and lots of visiting with a smattering of stressful interviews, some disappointments and a silver lining. Pretty eventful, right? Here's the low down...

Last Friday we went to visit the homestead and enjoy a night of drunken tom-foolery family love with my parents and Lil Sis. We ate Mexican. We drank Margaritas. We were up late and I'm pretty sure that my little sister probably shouldn't have made the drive home but she did it anyway. That's how we roll. It could be that I was mistaking my level of inebriation with hers - but whatever...

The next day, Saturday, I tried my best to make sure that Muffin would understand that Grand-mama and Grand-daddy's word was law. Then, I headed back to the house I call home (since I'm all homeless and shit) to get ready for the Job Conference on Sunday and Monday. I ironed, I packed, I prayed. I tried to think of everything.

I got to the conference on Sunday and started to get excited about all the different employers that would be coming. I attended the company briefings all day, retired to my room and proceeded to do a little "homework" so that I'd be prepared for the next phase on Monday. The Interview. Or, as I like to call it, The Phase Of Doom.

Do you know it's been over ten years since I have interviewed for a job? Yeah, I'm way out of practice. I reviewed the list of "usually asked questions" and tried to come up with decent, non-damning answers and yet, they asked me none of those. It was brutal. I was a mess. Did I mention that my whole neck and face turn red and blotchy under pressure? 'Cause it does! In spades!!

I finished my final interview at 5pm Monday evening and left the hotel both exhausted and ready for a drink. The recruiter told me to call at a certain time the next morning for feedback and I spent the remainder of my evening worrying that I would over-sleep and forget to make the call. Not that it would have mattered because, as it turns out, none of the individuals I had interviewed with thought I'd be a good candidate for their company. EPIC FAIL!

Talk about feeling low. I am very good at feeling sorry for myself and I am not ashamed to admit that I did a great deal of that for, ummmm, about an hour.

THEN! While I was wallowing in self-pity, I had a phone call from the Northern Virginia area - I was wary of answering it but some impulse prompted me to do so. It was from an employer who had seen my resume posted on a public site and felt that I had the credentials to fill their vacancy! Very exciting!

So, now I have an interview next week in an area that I had never considered moving to. Still, I'm very excited because the job description sounds EXACTLY like something I'd be happy with! Whoo Hoo! What's the old proverb? When God closes a door he often opens a window? Thank You!! Thanks for another chance! Let's just hope I don't fuck this one up too...

I spent the remainder of my week back at the parent's house, shopping for shoes, playing with Muffin and generally enjoying the fact that (for a few weeks) I am a lady of leisure. I can't wait to find a job, but on the whole, I think I'm better at laying around and doing whatever I want. Go Figure.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Here's hoping it works out for you. The job thing, that is. Northern Virgina? Thats an interesting area. I had a customer in Falls Church and I used to fly in there once in a while. It's pretty there, in Northern Virginia. Very green.

Amber D. said...

That's awesome!! I'm sending good ju-ju your way, hope everything works out with this interview. Enjoy your lady of leisure weeks ahead, and have a glass of wine for me!!

ATenorio said...

I feel your pain, I HATE job interviews... the whole job getting process pretty much sucks in fact.

I was considering teaching this fall and I went on several interviews oer the summer. BARF!

Good luck on the interview. I always like to think that we dont get any of the crappy jobs we think we want because the universe is holding out for letting us get that perfect job... hopefully this is your perfect job! :o)

Bev said...

Well, maybe those epic fail interviews were just a dress rehearsal for the real deal? You needed the practice! Now knock 'em dead at this interview for a job you might actually WANT!

YAY! Good luck, girl! I'm rooting for you all the way!

Krimmyk said...

I hope it works out for you!!!

Unknown said...

your job hunt sounds as exhausting as my house hunt...best of luck at this interview...I know it will all work out!

Mary said...

wow- good luck with the interview. I'm sure you'll kick ass!
I hate interviews too- and suck at them and I turn a lovely shade of red in my cheeks only. Like I'm a 40s movie start or something with those fake rouged cheeks...
enjoy your time off now and best wishes!!!

Babe in Babeland said...

GOOD LUCK with the next interview! You'll be GRRREAT. I just know it. It is SO HARD to find a job. I'm seriously impressed by how many interviews you've already been on and how driven you are. It's amazing!

Anonymous said...

Right, my fingers are now officially crossed.

Laura said...

Ok, so you had me at drinking Margaritas with your family. That sounds so very, like what I would do with my mother and my sister. It's nice to read about someone else who seems close to their family (unless i'm making an assumption!) Job interviewing sucks but it looks like from the first post I read- it all worked out.

Anonymous said...

So fucking exciting for you. Let's go celebrate!!!

Anonymous said...

Oops, helps if I made that comment on the correct post...