Sunday, August 21, 2005

The most bizarre job interview so far

So, every Wednesday and Saturday, when the "situations vacant" section of the paper comes out, Erin and I diligently look through it for potential hires. The last week there has been an ad that reads "TOY CRAZY GIRLS AND GUYS!! If you are a big jid at heart then come and join Christchurch's newest Toy Company. With 18+ new openings available, candidates will commence immediately in sales/customer service and cash handling. Experience not essential. Call Antonia," etc. etc. So we decided to apply.
I called Antonia, made an interview appointment for Saturday, and Erin and I got up on our day off to try our luck at a toy shop job. We get to the place and it's on the second (1st in New Zealand, as the 1st floor is the ground floor. But I digress) floor of this shoddy downtown office complex. We get in there and there is a reception desk, three or four chairs arranged unimaginatively around the wall, a TV in the classic Drs office set-up, and three doors into offices. The TV is blaring the music channel, presumably so we couldn't hear the "confidential conversations" going on inside. An extremely cute receptionist came out and asked us if we were there for the interviews. We said we were and he gave us applications to fill out. We sat down, completely dumbfounded at the lack of toys in the surroundings.
Upon reading over the applications we discovered that it was some kind of sales and marketing gimmick. So we left without saying goodbye to the cute receptionist. But since we weren't sure how to explain our misunderstanding, or even really what had just happened, that is probably for the best.
Back on the street, we drowned our sorrows in gluten-free desserts. And let me tell you, they were tasty.
Today we sat around in the park, enjoying the fabulous weather, and were mostly bums all day. But I applied for a real job! It required my degree and is in a marketing position and everything. Just imagine, using my liberal arts degree! Will wonders never cease!?