Last March the interviews in Minneapolis were starting to settle down. After a two week span of sending out resumes and getting no response I tried applying for jobs online in Massachusetts. If I could set up a few interviews who knows what could happen.
I ended up getting a few responses and since I had nothing set up in Minneapolis I booked a flight for Boston. As soon as I landed in Massachusetts I called and confirmed my interview with a well-known family pizza restaurant in New England. I was meeting with the management recruiter the next morning in Leominster.
I arrived for my 8:00 am interview at 7:45. I waited in my rental car until the employees started to arrive. At 8:00 I knocked on the locked door and the staff let me in. The recruiter had not yet arrived but the morning manager said I could wait for her in the dining room area. I took a seat and prepared my things. I took out my portfolio and looked over my resume.
After a few minutes I was greeted by the recruiter. She offered me a fountain drink and I accepted. She walked behind the counter took a cup and filled it with ice and soda. She placed it in front of me with a straw beside it. Then sat down. I thanked her for the drink then offered her my resume. Then we began talking. As expected she asked what I thought about Massachusetts, what I liked best about managing a family pizza restaurant in Minneapolis, you know the usual questions.
I answered all the questions she had and pointed out that I had only been in Minneapolis for the last four years; but I was originally from Massachusetts. I actually grew up in the neighboring city. I felt that she was quite impressed with my responses and since I was familiar with the area, she wanted me to have a second interview the next day with the district manager in Framingham, a city thirty five miles away. I said that would work out fine for me. She checked her district manager’s schedule in her Blackberry and confirmed a nine o’clock interview.
I went to Framingham the next day, Saturday, and interviewed with the District Manager. He was new to the area and was also new to the position. As usual, I provided him with my resume and we discussed my experience. I told him about managing the pizza restaurant in Minneapolis from the beginning, the challenges I faced, and what I did to drive sales and consistently lead the market in customer count, ticket average, and sales. I told stories about putting on the mascot costume prior to leaving and dancing out on the street to bring in extra business. I also informed him how I had developed and improved measures in the area of inventory, labor control, and other daily tracking that were later implemented company wide.
Everything I answered was right on the money. I could tell by his expressions that he was impressed. When we finished up he shook my hand and let me know that I would be hearing from him again. I left the interview knowing that I just had one of the best interviews I could ever have. To use a local baseball cliché, I hit one over the monstah onto Lansdowne street.
The 60 minute drive home didn’t feel long at all. I was thinking how great it would be that most likely within the next week I would be back to work again. Nothing could ruin this day, it was going so well. I hadn’t had a day like this in a long time and boy could I really use it.
When I got home the mailman was just leaving. I went to the mailbox, opened it took everything and walked inside. I scanned through the letters and there was one addressed to me and put it to the side. It was from the pizza restaurant dated yesterday; it’s probably one of those optional diversity questionnaires that companies send out, I thought.
I turned the letter around and inserted my finger under the sealing flap and slid down to the middle. I did the same on the other side until the envelope flap flipped up. I gripped the letter with my thumb and index finger and took it out, unfolded it and began reading:
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. While your experience is impressive we have decided to pursue other candidates. Good luck in your continued job search.
I had just got home from my second interview and the rejection letter has already arrived in the mail; if the recruiter didn’t want me why did she waste my time and have me meet with the district manager today? It didn’t come as a surprise; after nine months of rejection you kind of just get used to it and just move on.
On the brighter side I had another interview scheduled for Monday so it wasn’t like I didn’t have another chance to find suitable employment.
On a side note: I was impressed with the efficiency of the United States Postal Service.