So, I went on a set of interviews yesterday … I’m living on public transit, I should just get a bag, and give up my apartment. Anyway, the interview was with a former manager of mine … a guy I like and someone with whom I can laugh. Those are important things in the workplace for me.
My resume went in through an Agency, but this manager pushed for me to be interviewed. So, I wanted everything to right. First, I planned out the route on 511, and looked at the maps on one of the online sites. I had a plan, and took a bus/train combo an hour ealier than I should have needed to get there 15-20 mins early.
The bus runs about 5 minutes late. No problem. I get to the train with time to spare. The train leaves a little late, but gets into the station roughly on time. I head out, and start walking based on the directions.
WELL … those directions sent me in completely the wrong direction. So, I turn around, and head in the OTHER direction. And I’m walking … and walking … and walking … and I can see where I need to be … and it’s not close.
You see, it turns out the online mapping service I used also put the train station at the wrong point on Tunnel Avenue. So, I was completely turned around and in the wrong place …
No problem … still 45 minutes to the interview, right? I’ll call a cab. First company: Can’t pick you up, you’re in San Francisco. You have to call one there. Second company: Can’t pick you up. You’re not in San Francisco, you’re in SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO. They actually yelled at me. They gave me the number for an SSF cab company. No such number. Back to directory assistance. Third company: I’ll have someone there right away.
30 minutes later … no one. I’m now 15 minutes away from my first interview. I had to call. I got the voicemail for the HR Person. I called my colleague mentioned above. He answered and the HR guy called within 30 seconds of me starting to talk.
The HR guy was super, and offered to come get me himself. Bonus points for that to him and the company. Of course, it wasn’t that simple … and he went to a different train station …
He was in a good mood, and we actually laughed about the whole thing all the way to the interview site. By the time I got there, I completely missed the first interviewer, and was frazzled a bit through the first half or so of my new first interview.
In the end, I have no idea how it went. I felt like an idiot in the first conversation, but better the rest of the way.
How did I get home, you might wonder? There was a lovely shuttle service that that had me back into downtown SF in about 15 minutes. I was able to join friends, and get a couple of nice, sympathy shoulder massages …
But not until my friends all pointed, laughed, and MOCKED me for still having my visitor’s badge on from the interview. Everyone took turns wearing it, and finally, it just fell off Peter … the glue was a tired as I was.
Undoubtably, I went home with someone last evening. Sadly, it was just an image of me on the bottom of some shoe …
