Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts

A Week Late and an Hour Short – Episode 6

Last time on 50 Dollars and a Prayer, the fate of this intrepid entrepreneur was still hanging in the balance. But there are still a few tricks up those weather beaten sleeves.  If you are new to the blog you can “CATCH UP HERE” on previous episodes before continuing on. 

OK Ready?
Let’s go…

July 2014
The only thing worse than a dealing with a cocky female is dealing with a young cocky female, and the one standing in front of me was getting on my last nerve. I was at the reception desk of a posh hotel awaiting my interview.

(I know, I know, in all of the excitement you had forgotten about my pending interview).

But there I was a week after my first attempt at an interview at this hotel watching this baby in lipstick attempting to display a level of intellect that was clearly way beyond her comprehension.

This girl was so dumb she thought she was smart.

What she was in fact was a young pretty, light skinned girl who had been given a position because she was a young pretty, light skinned girl. Unfortunately even to this day some hotels still display only the “whitest” of black people in front of their paying guests.

However I digress. The baby with lipstick was insisting that I had missed my interview that, it was in fact an hour before. I am sure that those of you who read about my Previous Interview at this hotel can appreciate why I was now on the verge of instigating a Jerry Springer style beat down at the front desk.

Just for a moment I did contemplate dragging her skinny butt across the desk and throwing her into the fountain. But instead I went into my handbag and produced the letter with the revised date and time of my interview. I handed it over; the child read it and announced that the date had passed.

I began grinding my teeth again!

I looked at her for a long long time, how is it possible I thought. How can one human being have contained within them such an enormous amount of stupidity? I pointed to the side note that was written by the receptionist I met the last time I was there. The child then informed me that the receptionist that wrote that note was no longer employed at the hotel.

I looked at her in bewilderment and asked “WHAT ON EARTH HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ME?”

I was beginning to get a headache and I could tell that this conversation was only going to go downhill from that point. The child stated that the former receptionist could not be called upon to confirm that she had in fact written the side note.

OK I’d had it at this point. It was clear to me that I could no longer continue to converse with this imbecile. I demanded to speak to the duty manager. After some posturing and huffing and puffing the baby paged the duty manager.

Along came another baby. I sighed!

I explained my predicament to baby number two and to my shock she seemed to grasp my explanation quite easily. I was asked to take a seat while she went to human resources. I had a feeling of déjà vu; however after just a short time, baby number two returned and asked me to follow her. Too my surprise I was taken to the human resources manager.

Yet another baby offered me a seat. It was beginning to look as though this hotel did not hire anyone over the age of 25.  I sat down and I have to say I was absolutely in no humour to be having an interview, but I was there and so I put my best face on. It was what I considered to be a good interview. I was asked relevant questions and I responded to them in my usual polished professional manor.

The human resources manager informed me that I was the most qualified person she had interviewed so far and that if it was up to her she would offer me the job.

*Shocked face*

Erm, so who is it up to then? I thought. I suppose she could see the question written on my face and told me that she recommends applicants to the food and beverage manager and he makes the final decision as to who is hired.

Hmm OK!

I was asked to return the following day for a second interview with the food and beverage manager. I accepted and was about to leave when I had a thought. I asked the lady if she would mind giving me the second interview date in writing considering what I had already been through she smiled and told me that would not be necessary.

Instead she accompanied me to reception and informed baby number one that I would be returning the following day and to have me brought to her office the moment I arrive. Baby number one did not like that one little bit, but all she could do was smile and confirm her orders, and of course I had to give her my “tek dat” smile.

The following day I returned for my second interview. I was happy confident and looking forward to this latest challenge. The baby receptionist from the day before escorted me to the human resources manager. The food and beverage manager was already seated in her office. The introductions were made and the interview began.

Sometime later I was offered a cup of coffee and taken on a tour of the kitchens. I was introduced to the head chef I would be working with if hired. We chatted for a while and then returned to the office. The food and manager told me that he would very much like to hire me. I was qualified, experienced; I had great references and seemed to have the right personality for the job.

At this point I felt a huge internal sigh of relief. Thank God. I so needed this job. Thank you Father! But it seemed I was premature. After showering me with a great deal of praise the food and beverage manager threw a curve ball at me that left me dazed and confused.


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WHAT DID HE SAY???

Join me next time to find out J

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Love

Carol xx

50 Dollars and Another Prayer - Episode 2

Welcome Back!

Those of you following my story you will remember that at the end of the first installment I had just taken my last $50 said a prayer and invested it in a shortbread cookie making scheme. If you are new to the blog or missed the first part of the story CLICK HERE to read Part 1. OK So let’s jump right in to find out what happened next.

Part 2                  
June 2014
It took all of my resolve not to call the café to find out if they liked the shortbread cookies or not. Literally everything I owned was riding on them saying yes, so to say I was on tender hooks was a real understatement. However I also had a job interview to concern myself with so preparing myself for that was a distraction for me.

The job was for a sous chef (assistant head chef) at a large hotel. I was excited about my prospects as I had been recommended by someone prominent within the organisation. I dressed in my best power suit and with portfolio in hand I headed out nice an early for my interview. I arrived 15 minutes early and decided to just sit in the car and relax for 10 minutes. I always like to arrive 5 minutes before my interview time.

The 10 minutes passed quickly and I was soon heading to reception to announce my arrival. The receptionist asked me to take a seat and informed me that someone would be with me shortly. 20 minutes later I was still waiting. I went back to the receptionist who quite clearly had forgotten I was there and was very quick to apologise and said she would go personally to the human resources office to find out what was keeping them.

Another 10 minutes passed and I looked up to see the receptionist approaching me with a very sheepish look on her face. I immediately knew something was wrong. This very polished young lady informed me that I had come the wrong day and that my interview was scheduled for the following week. Now my blood pressure began to rise, but I have always been able to conduct myself in an articulate professional manor when the need arises. I calmly went into my handbag and produced the letter I received from the human resources office stating the date and time of my interview.

The receptionist quickly went from a normal shade for a Caucasian to a very vivid shade of beetroot red and began apologising profusely once again and asked if she could take the letter to the office. I handed it to her and sat down to wait. This time only a few minutes passed before the receptionist was with me once again. This time she stated that there had been a mix up in the office and asked if I could return the following week for the interview.

I was not a happy camper! However there was not much I could do about it so I asked the receptionist to write the new date and time on the letter and sign it. This she did without hesitation and I left most disappointed.

I was grinding my teeth all the way home. I had such high hopes for that interview just to have them dashed away so unceremoniously. Did these people not understand that I was on the breadline? I had no money and no job. I was in a very very bad way.

The following day I awoke with a heavy heart. I intended to go to the café to find out if the couple liked my shortbread cookies. But after the events of the previous day I really could not muster up any enthusiasm. I am by nature a positive person but that morning my positivity had fled and left me feeling very sorry for myself. Even I cannot be a ray of sunshine every day.

Never the less I got up and got myself ready to head out to the café. I got in the car and headed out. I put on some funky music in an attempt to lift my spirit and I have to say by the time I got to the café I was feeling much more optimistic. I went inside and was given a warm greeting and offered a cup of coffee. I sat down and waited for the husband to come and have a chat with me about my cookies.

They were quite busy when I arrived so it was some time before he was able to come and join me. I did not mind however because the café is in such a quite pleasant location. It really is the kind of place where you can while away a good few hours without realizing the time has passed. As I was finishing my coffee he came and sat down with me.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HE SAID?

Then Join Me Next Time!!

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Love

Carol xx

Psst!
Desperate for Episode 3? Click Here to Read It!
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