Heels & Sniffles

"Damn it," I hissed, slamming the phone onto the desk. The echo of Sarah's laughter as she said “Classic, Beth, you still haven’t started finding an outfit for this interview have you?” lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the two hours I'd just wasted talking to her about nothing. My stomach clenched – missing this interview wasn't an option. Not with my dream job at Magnum Bend hanging in the balance. The clock on the wall ticked menacingly, each tick a hammer blow against the dwindling minutes till interview time. I forced myself to turn back to the task at hand, find an outfit, get dressed and head downtown before the hour was up.

No use getting angry with myself for getting caught up talking about nothing when I knew just how important this interview was to my career. All I could do was just shake my head. “When would I ever learn,” I thought to myself. “When?” When would I ever learn to make time for the important things and stop waiting for the absolute final moment to begin?”

Living in a bustling city like New York, I was no stranger to chaos. From crowded subways to fast-paced workplaces, I had learned to navigate the whirlwind of city life with a blend of determination and humor. Since moving here, my dream had always been to carve out a successful career in finance and landing an interview with Magnum Bend, I felt a step closer to that dream.

However, my penchant for waiting till the last-minute often led to unavoidable disasters. I had a knack for running late that bordered on an art form. Despite my best intentions, I always found myself rushing against the clock, whether it was finishing a project or getting ready for an important event. It was a guarantee that I would either run late or wait till D day to start.

This interview at Magnum Bend was no exception. As I raced around my apartment, I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "When will I ever learn?" I chuckled to myself, a mixture of frustration and amusement.

But beneath the chaos and self-deprecating humor, there was a deep-seated motivation driving me forward. I wanted this job not just for the prestige or the paycheck, but because it represented a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and my passion for finance. It was my chance to prove to myself and to the world that I was capable, despite the occasional mishaps.

My chaotic lifestyle  got me to thinking about my first big interview after college. I had prepared meticulously, researching the company, practicing my responses, and even choosing the perfect outfit. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I arrived at the interview location and realized I had forgotten my resume.

Panic set in as I frantically searched my bag, hoping against hope that I had slipped a copy of my resume somewhere, but my bag yielded only a crumpled receipt and a half-eaten granola bar which is typical of how Murphy's law always appeared in my life.

In a moment of desperation, I approached the receptionist and explained my predicament. She gave me a sympathetic smile and said, "Don't worry, happens all the time. Just send us your resume via email after the interview."

Relieved but slightly embarrassed, I made a mental note never to forget my resume – again. That interview went surprisingly well, and I landed the job despite the initial hiccup.

As I chuckled at the memory, I reminded myself that even the most chaotic moments could lead to unexpected successes. It was a lesson I carried with me into every interview since—be prepared, but also be ready to roll with the punches and find humor in the chaos.

“Enough of the past I said to myself,” I need to get ready.

With my heart hammering against my ribs, I raced around my tiny NYC apartment like a tornado on Red Bull. Everything seemed to conspire against me. Knocking over a potted plant and watching the dirt fly across the room I thought, this is it, my third interview with Magnum Bend, the holy grail of finance companies and I just knew that I was on my way to making that ‘bag.’ “Go girl, go girl, you got it, you got it,” I sang as I tripped over my own shoes, performing an impromptu dance routine that would've impressed even the clumsiest of performers. "Who put these here? Oh, right, me," I muttered, untangling myself from the shoe tangle.

As if on cue, my coffee mug decided it wanted to join the chaos party. With a dramatic flourish, it slipped from my hand, sending a brown tsunami cascading down my blouse. "Seriously? Today of all days?" I groaned, frantically dabbing at the coffee stains with a tissue.

Meanwhile, my phone alarm continued to buzz insistently, reminding me that it was time to go. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" I shouted at the phone, as if it could hear my frantic pleas.

Finally, after a series of missteps, spills, and near-misses, I managed to wrangle myself into the rest of my interview outfit. The skirt threatened to revolt against its length, and the blouse clung to me as if it had a personal vendetta. "At least I'm dressed, sort of," I sighed, resigning myself to the less-than-perfect ensemble. “I’ll just keep the jacket buttoned so the stain doesn’t show, “as I buttoned the jacket over the wet material.

With a last-minute swipe of lipstick and a quick dusting of baby powder in my sneakers to combat the dreaded foot sweat, I grabbed my briefcase and bolted out the door, leaving behind a trail of overturned items and chaos in my wake.

Luckily the subway rumbled to a stop just as I reached the platform, the doors hissing open like a hungry crocodile’s mouth. I shoved myself through, heart pounding frantically like a tattoo being drawn against my ribs. Every creak of the wheels, every groan of the brakes, felt like an eternity. The train finally screeched to a halt, jolting me back to reality. I straightened my skirt and sniffed, the stale air of the subway doing little to calm my nerves." Fuck,” I kept saying under my breath,” why do I continue to do this all the time, wait till the last minute to get ready?”

Finally, I burst out of the station and sprinted up the street, dodging pedestrians and muttering apologies under my breath. I skidded through the glass doors of the imposing Magnum Bend skyscraper, chest heaving. Making it through security I hurriedly placed the visitor pass onto my jacket, changed from my sneakers into heels, brushed a few stray hairs away and switched to a diaphragmatic breathing method to lower my heart rate as I waited for the elevator doors to open.

Exiting the elevator, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the reception area. The space was a harmonious blend of modern elegance and timeless sophistication. Marble floors gleamed under the soft, warm lighting and plush leather armchairs beckoned from beneath tasteful paintings adorning the cherry paneled walls.  Soft jazz music played in the background, creating a soothing backdrop to the outside world. It was refined luxury at its best and I knew at that moment that I would do anything to be hired.

"Hello," I rasped, a touch of condescension lacing my voice, as I directed my attention at the impeccably groomed receptionist. "I have a two o'clock appointment with the board."

The receptionist, a woman with a perfectly sculpted bob and a stare that could curdle milk, took one look at me, then flicked her gaze pointedly to my nose.

Mortified, I reached up and swiped my fingers under my nose because who doesn’t sweat there? Had I gotten that much sweat on my face during the subway ride I thought? Straightening my shoulders and placing on a confident smile I looked down at her and asked, “Can you please let them know that I have arrived?” Forcing myself to remain calm I found a seat and surreptitiously placed my sneakers behind a plant. Wouldn’t do to have them falling out of my briefcase.

Sitting in the waiting room at Magnum Bend, nervously tapping my foot and rehearsing potential interview answers in my head I allowed myself a moment to envision what floor they would have me working on and would I have a window office or a would I have one of those partitioned offices where every conversation was carefully monitored? All I knew at that moment was that I was going to get this job.

"The board is expecting you, Ms. Davis," the receptionist drawled, skepticism lingering in her voice. Jolted back to reality I stood, grabbing my briefcase and using the sleeve of my jacket to wipe off the sweat on my face, I followed her.

As she escorted me to the conference room, I managed to smooth back my hair and place that upside down frown onto my face. “You got this Girl,” I muttered to myself, “you got this. “

The conference room was a mix of modern elegance and intimidating grandeur. Unlike the reception area a great deal more expense had gone into the conference room. Looking around I noticed the two Klimt paintings facing either end of the imposing 25 seat conference table and couldn’t help being impressed with how far I had come in my career. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that threatened to consume me. Mr. Magnum, a tall man with a commanding presence, greeted me with a firm handshake and a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes when he glanced at me.

"Thank you for coming, Ms. Davis," he said as he gestured for me to take a seat at the polished mahogany table. The other board members, all impeccably dressed and exuding professionalism, nodded in acknowledgment.

Mr. Magnum asked probing questions about my experience, skills, and vision for the company. I answered as best as I could, trying to convey enthusiasm and competence despite the lingering self-doubt as the board members glanced at each other when they thought I wasn’t looking.

As the interview droned on, I tried to focus on my prepared answers and maintain a confident demeanor. However, my mind kept drifting to the chaos of the morning—the spilled coffee, the frantic rush, my coffee-stained blouse, the list expanding as I reviewed my morning. I cursed myself for my last-minute habits, knowing they were now haunting me in the most crucial moment of my career.

Catching myself twisting a strand of hair around my finger I forced myself to stop fidgeting and concentrate. When a dry cough snagged in my throat, I fumbled with the water pitcher, almost spilling it on the stack of notes in front of me. The clock on the wall seemed to tick in time with the growing damp patch beneath my bra and blouse.

At one point, Miss Choprand, a sharp-eyed board member, raised an eyebrow skeptically at my response. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead, wishing I had remembered to bring a handkerchief or something to wipe the sweat from my face.  Trying to appear nonchalant I wiped my hands across the bridge of my nose hoping to capture whatever it was that was drawing attention away from my answers.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the interview concluded. I thanked Mr. Magnum and the board members, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach as the interview ended. They either didn’t like me or weren’t expecting a female was all I could think as I left the conference room, I couldn't shake off the nagging thought that I had somehow messed up, that my chaotic morning had cost me the opportunity of a lifetime. Asking the receptionist where the ladies’ room was, I went off in that direction. With a sinking heart, I held my tears in until I entered the bathroom.

Staring at myself in the bathroom mirror I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. That's when I glanced at my face in the mirror, and everything clicked. The baby powder that I had applied so liberally in my shoes to prevent foot sweat, was now a stark white line across my nostrils, thanks to my nervous sniffing. It looked exactly like, well...

Oh my gosh they probably think I am on drugs. And with that thought I started sobbing.   Realizing that no amount of preparation could erase the consequences of my own habits. If I had left at a decent time I wouldn’t have been rushing. If I had left on time I would have had time to at least take a few moments in the bathroom checking that all was okay.

As I collected myself and prepared to leave, a voice echoed in my mind—my mother's voice, with its mix of admonishment and wisdom. "Learn from your mistakes, dear. Every experience, even the chaotic ones, teaches us something valuable."

With those words in mind, I straightened my shoulders and resolved to take whatever lessons I could from this day, chaotic as it may have been.

Dread pooled in my stomach as I went back over the interview. Every time I had sniffed during the interview, trying to compose myself, it must have looked like I was snorting cocaine. The receptionist’s stare, Miss Choprand’s smirk, it all made terrible sense now.

As I was waiting for the elevator Mr. Magnum also exited the conference room, seeing me he turned back toward the conference room. “Oh no,” I thought, he thinks I am a druggie.  What could I say to him to let him know that the white powder under my nose was just that baby powder and not what they thought?

Arriving back home I wrote a thank you letter to the board, and as a postscript, I described what I hoped would come across as funny – the story of how I applied talcum powder in my shoes and how it accidentally got on my hands and nostrils. I even explained that if they wanted me to take a drug test I would be more than happy.

In the days following the interview at Magnum Bend, I found myself oscillating between hope and anxiety. Every email notification made my heart skip a beat, wondering if it was the anticipated response from the company.

Days turned into weeks, and the silence grew deafening. Doubt crept in, whispering cruel reminders of the chaotic morning and the potential mistakes I had made during the interview. I berated myself for not being more prepared, for allowing my last-minute habits to sabotage my chances.

Two months from the date of the interview  as I sat staring at my phone, willing it to ring with good news, I received an unexpected email. It was from Magnum Bend. With trembling hands, I opened it, steeling myself for the inevitable rejection.

To my surprise, the email began with words that lifted a weight off my shoulders. "We appreciate your time and effort during the interview process," it read. My heart raced as I continued reading, expecting the familiar "however" that often-preceded rejection letters. But the next sentence brought tears of relief and joy to my eyes. "We are pleased to offer you the position of Senior Financial Analyst at Magnum Bend provided you pass the background and mandatory drug testing."

I couldn't believe it. Despite the chaotic morning, the doubts, and the setbacks, I had landed the job. A mix of emotions flooded through me—elation, gratitude, and a newfound sense of confidence.

Sometimes, being late can get you that job.

As I prepared to step into my new role at Magnum Bend, I carried these lessons with me. I was determined to excel, not just in my job but also in life, armed with the wisdom gained from chaotic moments and the resilience to overcome any challenges that came my way.