Banalité du jour

I had an interview today for an administrative position within a local choral arts organization.  I am massively overqualified for about 90% of the job.  The other 10% is stuff that I've never directly overseen at the level required, but given my experience and training, could be learned readily. 

Based on the dispassionate countenance of the interviewers, I'm skeptical of my chances.  Blind Freddy could see that, for this role, I'm probably 1) too old, 2) over-educated, and 3) desperate for work in my field.  But at least I didn't grovel.  I'm proud of myself for that.

The first thing they asked me was a fairly standard interview-type question:

If a good friend were to describe you in a few words, what would they say?

I'm not fond of that type of thing.  Yes, in my past experience as a manager who conducted interviews, I've fallen into the trap of asking things like that, but I've never been comfortable on the other end.  I don't like to give answers based on what I think someone wants to hear.  I gave up that kind of thing when I finished my grad school. 

So I pictured what a dear friend in Tucson, who always speaks honestly, directly and with amazing candor, might say.  I answered, "hard-working, talented, full of integrity, friendly, smart, intellectual."  As I was feeding them the descriptors, they scribbled little notes.  I began wondering if, instead of writing down what I was actually saying, they were writing, "arrogant American."  I'm my own worst enemy.

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After the interview, I came home and faced more VPN hell.  I hadn't been able to log on and work all day.  A severe late-winter storm has hit the region where the main office of the company for whom I work part-time, remotely is located.  It seems all the servers are offline. 

Because I'm not salaried in this role, not being able to log in means no pay for the day.  Now I have to squeeze in the lost hours during my "off" time.  That makes me grumpy.  It used to be somewhat consoling to say that someday I'll get a real job and I won't have to worry about this.  It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't already been telling myself that for about 5 years now.

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Tomorrow should be better.

Comments

[Patrick]

you forgot really really handsome!

[Marsha]

Well, dear heart, I firmly agree with your assessment! Chin up:)