This post will run for two days
I've had a really odd time interviewing. I'm starting to think businesses are turning mad. I also have a date for my unemployment hearing; it’s scheduled for May 2nd.
At this point as I've thrown myself fervently into job searching for anything. I’m quite frustrated. I started out by searching for waiter jobs, yet have now realized that with every bone in my body I can not be a waiter anymore. I have at this point tried a few restaurants, yet I can’t work in their environment, I don’t want to be screamed at or generally find myself in the situation I once was in, again. The final restaurant I trailed at simply broke one to many health code violations; for me to feel comfortable working there. In front of my eyes a server picked up a knife from the dishwashers slop bucket, had it rinsed – then set a table with it.
So craigslist has been part of my search. I am happy to say that I did not apply to the Jewish Egg Donor post (hey, I’d make $8,000) yet I applied for everything I thought I would get. Some guy was looking to get his apartment sorted, I offered him the “queer eye experience” he wanted a woman to do the job instead. I even applied for a sleep study, yet apparently I sleep to well, which frankly is news to me. So that was the end of craigslist. I don’t know why but the jobs on the board are getting quite odd. With the legit jobs shrinking.
My largest concern, because I’ve spent so much time trying to find a job is that my writing has suffered, I’m at a place were I’ve attracted a lot of attention from individuals and foundation that can support my art and it hurts not to be able to devote the energy I need, to take it to the next level. What can I do. I keep on thinking of a story I just wrote. One of the lines is “for this is the society we have created.”
I did find an Armani Exchange ad on craigslist; they were looking for Sales Associates. It was an Open Call. Let’s just say, as I try to choose my words carefully, never never again. My expectation was that they would be taking resumes and talking to everyone for a bit, then there would be another round of interviews to wean the pool. No. It was a group interview; I’ve never experienced this fascinating form of recruiting before. First let me mention that I was the only person in a suit, I knew that I might be, yet I wanted to “dress in the image of the brand” in other words, I have two Armani Suits from back in the day when I was making enough money were I could actually afford such things. Needless to say I was vastly, vastly, so over dressed I stood out like a sore thumb. I was also the only one with good posture.
We were asked into a room, seven at a time for a fifteen minute group interview. We were asked three questions. One of these questions was, drum roll please, the most strange question ever in the history of amateur interview hour, “What kind of animal are you?” yes, they asked it, they asked this questions, which is from HR school 101. I picked a snow owl. Everyone else picked a cat. There were five cats in the room. I was hoping for originality of some sorts, yet no, everyone picked the most common of all house pets to identify with. Apparently all candidates will be informed by mail if they are to be employed with this great company, we have been encouraged not to follow up or to make contact of any kind after the group therapy interview (as some people I know have called it.) I’m holding my breath.
I got a post card in the mail from Armani Exchange saying they appreciated my interest yet will not be going forward with the interview process. Sigh, I’m just wondering, what interview process? I should have said I was a cat.
I am now going to phase five hundred into my escalation – of the world of job search, temping I have made contact with a temping juggernaut and I’m now represented, the interview involved lots of testing, apparently I type 48 words a minute and I scored 86 on Word, Excel and Outlook, what these scores actually mean, I have no clue, I’ve been told it makes me a viable candidate. I felt more like I was being processed then I was actually being interviewed. The great thing about looking for a temp job is that I won’t be confined to the narrow hours for finding a restaurant job, which is 2 – 5 Tuesday threw Thursday. We’ll see what happens to me this week as I go into the world of the temp.
I just wanted to inform you... when you said that you wanted to dress the part for Armani Exchange, you should have dressed more urban-like. As you discovered during the "open call" you were the only one dressed the way you were. Although your intentions were correct, Armani Exchange and the Armani Collection are two different things. Even though they both are within the same company, neither labels are derived from the other. Armani Exchange is a more urban-like appeal while Girorgio Armani collection is a more high-end type of clothing collection.
I stumbled across your blog through google and I'm having a job search issue as well. I thought it'd be appropriate to comment to help improve your next Armani Exchange interview. I hope I didn't offend you.
Posted by: Peter | June 25, 2007 at 01:46 AM