I woke up at 3:00 for my lifeguarding duties and was at the gym an hour later. I cleaned the pool. Checked the chemicals to make sure that people wouldn't get chlorine rashes. And I watched people swim for four hours to make sure that our clubs patrons didn't drown and die. We have all kinds of people swimming there. Well, mostly old. But there are little children taking swim lessons and physical therapy. There are also your average age adults who are working out. Huge aquatic fitness classes. But mostly, I get to converse and spend time with those we call "the elderly." They are the most WONDERFUL people! :) They have spent a lifetime in their own shoes and each is full of their own delightful "isms."
Anyway. Back to the point.
So I was a lifeguard until 9am. At this point I drove home, ate breakfast, chose hymns for Sunday, and took time to get ready for an interview I had with Verizon Wireless. I curled my hair, wore nice clothing and shoes, and just tried to look the best that I could. I was very nervous about the interview but I kept praying, which helped me to stay a little bit calmer.
I got to my interview with a good amount of buffer time. I was definitely nervous, but I found my way to the VZW kiosk and filled out an application while I was waiting for Jim (name changed) to complete another interview.
When I sat down at the interview I was repeatedly asked the same questions over and over. Questions about my work history. Did I know what retail really means? I was then told all of the horrors of retail. Would I give up my entire life for retail? Would I sacrifice everything for this job? Would I be willing to become a slave. Would I be able to stand up to the terrifying customer and make them buy a phone? I am not sure if they were trying to scare me away...but lately I have been repeating the mantra "I am afraid of NOTHING. I fear no man!" So I stood up to him and his questions.
I suppose that I must have a persecution complex because unless people are warm and tender with me, I think that they must hate me!! :P
Anyway. I thought that he was very skeptical of my work history, having gone over and over the same points, and I said to him point blank: "So. I am getting this feeling that you don't like me or that you simply do not approve of my work history. Am I correct in thinking that you will not be calling me back?"
It was really hard to stand up to him like that. To assert myself. It felt uncomfortable and I felt like a hostile person. When he asked me to repeat myself, I wanted to retract what I had said. But I didn't. I modified my statement to be shorter, but I stood firm. I thought I had nothing to lose. (Although, I did feel like a mean person even though I said nothing unkind.
Well. After I had had my little say, the whole tenor of the interview changed. He seemed to have a little more respect for me. He said several times that I would definitely be considered as a candidate. He said that the interview was basically just a face to face meeting and that there would be a follow-up interview.
Lo and behold, just a few hours later I received a call from Jim offering for me to work on Monday morning. I accepted. I probably should have asked a few questions before being so impulsive, but I accepted.
