Blue Jean Interview

It was a hot summer day in July, when I received a surprise telephone call. I was sitting at my desk at work when my cell phone rang. As I search my purse to find my phone, I started to worry because not that many people called me on my cell phone. The reason is because I never have it on. It’s a personal joke shared between my family and friends.

So, when I finally found it, I said hello in a weak voice to the mystery person on the other end.

“Hello, can I speak to Tori” the mystery person who I now know is a man said.

“Speaking” I said still very unsure about what he wanted with me.

“Hi, Tori, my name is…and I am called from… I can across your resume and…” that was when I found out that this called was for a job interview. I rushed away from my desk because first I didn’t want to let anyone on my job know that I was looking for a new job. Secondly, I had no reason to be on my cell phone at work.

So, I took refuge in the hallway that led to our main office area. From where I stood, I could see the busy hustle and bustle occurring below on Market Street in Philadelphia. I walk to the window so I could see the people walking by as I answered all the questions that my interviewer was throwing at me. He told me that he wanted to do so a brief telephone interview before scheduling our face to face interview. The telephone interview was going very good, in fact, it was perfect. I was so happy because I have now finally redeemed myself from another bad telephone interview when I was back in college. When that interviewer asked me to describe my specific job function, I said loud and wrong “You know it LIKE STUFF AND THINGS” that was when the interview ended. You guess it I didn’t get the job.

Now, going back to this Friday morning telephone interview, which was going great. The interviewer was very impressed with me and I was so excited about the fact that I might get a face to face interview. This is until it became clear that he wanted to meet me today.

“So, what time can you come in?” he asked me.

“What are you crazy” I wanted to tell him, but I don’t think that would help my chances of getting the job. Just think about it, if I told the interviewer that he was crazy. So, I told him that I was at work now and would need to schedule it for Monday. He told me that was impossible since he had to make his decision by Monday. He was finishing all the interviews today. He said that his decision was already narrow down to a few candidates and he was conducting the face to face interview today.

“Wow” I thought to myself. “Wow, I can’t believe that he really wants me to come in today.” I was at a lost for words. Then I told him the reason I could not meet with him today was that it was dress down day at my job. But once again, he told me that was okay. I was again lost for words. So, we agree that I was going to meet him after work in his lobby. “What did I get myself in for” I asked myself. “This is wrong, so wrong.” I kept saying to myself as I return back to my desk.

Now, as you read this, asked yourself did Victoria lose her mind? Why is she so worried? What is the big deal? I see no problems. “So what” you are thinking. I can image what you would say to me if we were face to face. First, you would have to asked me what on earth was all that about “LIKE STUFF and THINGS”, but after you see my sad face and know that my family and friends are still laughing at me and asking me is it “LIKE STUFF and THINGS.” You will understand the reason they are still laughing and you will probably laugh also, but after we handle my latest interviewing problem. So, I can see how our chat we go.

“Okay” you said. “You are at work right?”

“Yeah, I am at work.” I said looking very sad

“Okay” you said again “What is the problem wears your work clothes. It not like you have to wear an uniform or what.”

“Yeah, I know that my company dress code is casual attire on Fridays, in fact, our dress code in normally business casual.” I said to you.

“See” you said. “That is even better. You are in business casual.”

You are thinking about nice khaki pants and a nice shirt or blouse. But I told you that business casual is for Monday thru Thursday not Friday. Friday is our dress down day and I mean our very dress down day.

“OH” you said.

“Yeah Oh.” I said

Now, you are starting to see my problem, but you are still a little puzzle. So, I tell you to read the title of this story again. Now, you understand what I am worried about. I am wearing jeans today, but not just jeans, very tight, light color jeans and an ugly white tee-shirt. I look a mess. My braids are messed up, like I said, I look a mess.

But still you don’t see the problem. In fact, you tell me that it not a problem.

“What? Are you crazy?” I asked. You tell me to “Go to the store. Get new clothes. Get a wig for your hair” “Are you in downtown Philly?” you asked me.

“I know that they have a lot of stores downtown. So go to one at lunch. See there is no problem” you tell me.

“But it is.” I told you. “I am broke.”

Okay, now you are finally seeing my problem. I am broke, no money, and I look a mess. This is not happening to me. If you remember, I can’t reschedule because this is the last day he will be interviewing people. So, you asked me what I am going to do about the interview. “What do you think?” I told you. I am going to pull my messy braids back in a ponytail, smooth out my tight light blue jean and tried to make my dirty white tee-shirt look more professional. And when 4:30pm can I walk out of my building with pride in my heart. Yes, I looked a mess, but no more bad interviews via telephone or face to face. This would be a good interview, and I was going to get this job. Yes, I was feeling good about this interview. Until…

Until I walked into the building and looked around to see wall to wall of people in suits. So do you know what I did next? I ran to closely nearby clothes store as fast as I could, to find something else to wear, before I arrive at this interview. Yes, I told you I was broke, but I did have about thirty dollar on my credit card. And I was going to use it. I searched that store high and low, but I didn’t find everything and I didn’t want to be late for the interview. So, I held me my head high and walked to my interview in my light blue jean, in a dirty white tee-shirt and messed up hair and had my first and I pray my last Blue Jean Interview.

So, you guess it, I did not get the job. And the “Blue Jean Interview” is up there with the “LIKE STUFF AND THINGS” that my family and friends laughs about when they tell people what not to do on an interview. They told me that nothing could top these two interview nightmares that is until couple month ago. I interviewed with a major news station and let it slip that not only I don’t know any of their news anchors, but also I watch their rival station. Yes, once again you guess it; I didn’t get the job.

So, when you are putting on your favorite blue jeans, I hope you remember this story and it put a smile on you face.