I have been applying like crazy this past month. I have been checking craigslist daily, getting into the Washoe County School district's application program, and walking into countless retail stores asking for an application.
One day, I walked down a row of stores to apply in any store that told me they were currently hiring. I made it to the cash register of one place before I realized it was a women's plus size store. I shrugged in my mind and figured it was worth a shot. The girl at the front was really friendly and gave me an application. I had ran out of resume copies and had to spend a while filling out all the blanks. The whole time I was thinking to myself, "It doesn't matter to me that this store's plus size. I want a job, not an outfit. But would they really hire me? This is kind of awkward! It shouldn't matter what size I am. ...What if a requirement is to wear their line? I'll have to get online later and see their sizes IF I'm hired. haha, like they'd really hire me."
Most stores I applied at only check for past retail experience. None called up my references or really took the time to interview. I had one interview that went alright, but like I said, they picked the guy with retail experience over me. I really have been waiting for a school job, though, so it didn't matter too much.
Two days ago, I received a phone call. She asked if I shopped in their store, a name I didn't even recognize. (That's what I get for going door to door!) "To be honest, I don't really shop there. I am just looking for a job." I said. We set up a time for an interview the next day, and I hung up. Tim joked that I should've told them I shop there all the time. I was glad I didn't, because when I looked up the store, it was the plus-size one. I checked online the kind of clothes they had. The clothes were really nice, but nothing was my size.
The next day I was nervous. Over lunch, I talked to Tim about it. "I don't know if I even want to go." She doesn't know what I look like now, but it's going to be so awkward."
"Father, just help this to be an okay experience for me." I prayed as I headed in. They weren't very busy, but there was a shy-looking girl waiting for her interview. I introduced myself and talked with her for a bit, hoping to take away the nervousness she probably had.
My interview was first. The manager and I went to the back office, and I saw a girl organizing clothes and attaching security devises to sweaters. "That's something I could do!" I thought. The lady had me sit down, and she asked me about Kansas and the weather. Then our interview went something like this:
Lady: "You were a para educator. What's that?"
Me: "Well, I don't have my bachelor's yet, so I can only be hired to help at schools."
Lady:"So you're a teacher. Why aren't you subbing? I know someone who is and she says you make good money. And if you're really good, you get hired for pregnancies and stuff."
Me: "Well, I did apply at the school district, but they haven't contacted me yet."
Lady: "Here's the deal. You seem really qualified. I feel bad because you should be out there in the schools, not here. Hey! It says you live close to me! Are you sure you want to drive all this way?"
Me: "Well, I need something productive to do while I'm here."
Lady: "Oh, well, I don't even want to waste my time asking you questions. I'll probably just call your references and get back to you."
Me: "I'm just glad you're contacting them! Most stores just see that I have no retail experience and..."
Lady: "Oh, you don't need experience really. You just have to be smart and friendly and able to work fast. The rest I can teach you. I have to decide how many managers I'm going to hire before I hire any employees. What kind of position are you looking for?"
Me: "Well, wherever I'm needed most, I guess." (thinking of the girl working in the back)
Lady: "Okay, then! I'd hire you as a manger. I just need to determine whether I need a full time or two part times. And what if the school hires you after you take this job?"
Me: "It would only be during the day, so I could still work evenings."
Lady: "Alright! oh, and one last thing: girls will be asking you why you're here. They might be rude to you when you first start. You're just going to have to think of a good way to answer without offending anyone. I've hired little skinnies like you before. You'll just have to win them over with your personality."
So that's how it went! I'm not hired yet, but I probably will be. Even if it's not the best-paying job, it will be a great experience and I will have it on my resume when I move back to Kansas!
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