Yesterday after work I went to go interview for a 2nd job, working at a retirement community in the metro area to be an on-call evening/weekend receptionist. The goal of getting a side hustle is to pay off my debt that much more quickly so that I can eventually purchase a new-to-me car and get that paid off in under a year by making astronomical monthly payments. I received a call on Thursday night from the company, and after 10 minutes on the phone she asked me to come in for an in-person interview.
The “interview” was very easy – it was basically me just assuring her that I’ve done front-desk work (phones, faxes, receiving mail/packages, greeting visitors, etc.) and that I am a good fit for dealing with the elderly and all their issues (I have said many times I love old people – it stems from the great relationship I had with my grandmother and her friends while I was growing up). Once the interview portion ended, the woman took me on a tour. The tour consisted of her showing me not just the main areas (gym, salon, library, dining room, shop, garden, etc.) but also showing me every exit door, every stairwell, every trash chute. It was so strange.
But then it got even weirder. We arrived back at the front desk and rather than thanking me for my time and sending me on my way, she proceeded to show me everything at the front desk. “This is where we keep our forms. This is where we keep our notes. This is where you’ll get the work orders for residents. This is where we keep our purses and personal belongings.” And on and on – I realized that I wasn’t being interviewed anymore, but TRAINED for the position.
Y’all, it got to the point where she had given me so much information that at some point she was on the phone helping someone when a gentleman came in the front door. “I’m trying to find the memory care entrance,” he said.
“Oh, you’ll want to go back outside and drive around to the back of the building – the entrance to memory care is directly behind us on the other side of the building.”
“Great, thanks!” and out he went.
A few minutes later, another gentleman walked in, and my interviewer was still on the phone. “I’m here to get a bit more information about this place – I’m looking to place for my mother. Can you tell me how long this facility has been here and how many residents there are?”
I proceeded to tell him the facility was approximately four year sold and housed almost over 200 people between independent living and memory care. At that point my interviewer got off the phone and took over the conversation.
In total, I was there for 90 minutes, the last 30 of which was her showing me the front desk and how it functions. At some point a vendor came up to the front desk, at which point she asked him to wait a moment, and she walked me around the corner.
“I won’t keep you here any longer, but I want to tell you that if I could hire you today, I would. Your personality is clearly a good fit and I know you’d do well. Unfortunately, my boss told me just last night that she’s not ready to hire anyone just yet. But as soon as she gives me permission, I’d like to hire you – but I just don’t know when that might be.”
Internally I was extremely aggravated – you brought me in and kept me here for 90 minutes for a job that isn’t even being FILLED??????
And at that point I left and enjoyed prime holiday rush hour traffic to get back home. So basically, I got a job – but not really.
*sigh*
