So I Had This Job Interview...

Periodically, I apply for jobs that I find posted on Craigslist (the ones that aren't insultingly underpaid and seem to be interesting). This one in particular was a part-time position with a local antique dealer as a research/administrative assistant. The pay was good and the work consisted of researching and drafting write-ups of various pieces in the collection and updating the company website from time to time. It also involved answering phones, doing invoicing, you know, the usual administrative stuff. I wasn't over the moon about the actual job, but more the prospect of earning a little income while doing something that wouldn't rot my brain from boredom.

I had a phone interview last week and the next day they asked if I would come in for an in-person interview. I agreed and thought I pretty much had it in the bag. In my experience, in-person meetings are really to make sure the person on the phone isn't a total nutjob, which I am not (at least most of the time). The interview time worked out perfectly, since it was about an hour and 15 minutes before my dentist appointment right around the corner. I woke up to a cold and rainy morning, but saw it only as an opportunity to sport that raincoat I purchased this spring. I decided to walk to the interview to get a little exercise in for the day, especially since it wasn't raining that hard. I arrived to the interview about 10 minutes early and rang the bell.

The person who interviewed me on the phone came down the stairs and opened the door. I stuck out my hand and introduced myself and he proceeded to tell me that the position had been filled. He looked really embarrassed and said that his boss had just told him minutes before I arrived -- he tried calling on my home phone number, but only about a minute before I showed up, so obviously, I wasn't home. I stared at him in shock as he apologized profusely and paused to see if I would tell him it was okay.

Well, I didn't. It wasn't okay. It was horrifying, humiliating, and insanely annoying. I leaned back on my heels, nodded, turned around and started walking. I know you're not supposed to burn bridges when job searching, so not replying to his apologies was not exactly professional; however, I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I'd chastise him in some way, which would have been even worse.

Trying to put all of this in perspective, I remembered my trip to the Japanese Garden this past weekend with Jesse and our friend, Tex. At least I'm not this guy (who had about 15 tripods set up behind his, um, behind). I may have had my dignity crushed for an afternoon, but at least there isn't any photo documentation of the event.