One of the temp agencies I was "working" with, well, she had called a couple weeks ago to let me know she never got back to me because she went on maternity leave shortly after she met with me. So she found me a contract-to-hire position as a receptionist for an IT solutions company in McLean. I'm interviewing on Monday and nervous as shit. The only time I interviewed for a non-retail job was in late 2011 with Homeland Security, and although I think I did "all right," they were more concerned with the fact I had one government class I was taking (literally the only and last class of college, I only took that one class in the fall of 2011) and they didn't want me failing it and not graduating. I ended up getting a B+.
Anyway, the job description seems like mostly the stuff I was doing with "operations" in retail. Obviously it's a bit different but same things. Operations in retail is the office stuff anyway (unlike sales generation or clienteling or visual merchandising). Everyone does things a little different, but it's a lot of sales totals, paperwork, sometimes scheduling and payroll control, a little HR (very little at Benetton and 7FAM, but I did a little HR at Jacadi, but usually that stuff was handled by Corporate), inventory management, supply ordering, maintenance calls, updating rules and regs, that sort of thing.
Anyway, I'm nervous, could you tell ? And the thing is, I wish this woman had let me work with someone else in the meantime. Let's say I do get the job and start in May (I don't even want to think about already asking for a Friday and Monday off in late April to go to Ohio which I've been planning for 6 months), although this is still a temp job and they could end up not liking me, it does have the possibility to turn into a permanent position. So I'd be accepting it, knowing that come August I'll have to walk out the door anyway. But at least it'll give me a little experience right ? Then I can just work at Target or something in Ohio, set myself up with a temp agency, and just keep looking. Ughhhhh.
I know I could do it, I just get overwhelmed because it's out of my comfort zone. For example, I knew Microsoft Office a lot better in college than I do now, but I learn that stuff pretty quickly. My temp contact mentioned I may have projects. Um... can't think of what projects a receptionist may have, but okay. Then she told me I may need to help with proposals. WHAT ? Seriously, how can I be a PoliSci major and not understand why a receptionist would need to help with an IT company proposal ? What's a proposal ? Also, since it's IT, does it matter that I'm not an IT wiz ? Will it matter if I may get tripped up the first time I need to make copies or change the ink in the printers ? I can learn this stuff. I was at Benetton barely 3 months and knew more than everyone else there (as evidenced by the fact everyone always asked me how to do things).
As if that weren't enough, I've gained a few pounds (though I've been really good this week and taken Evie out on walks totaling about 16 miles) and the pants that went with my only suit don't fit anymore (though I always thought they were small compared to other size 14's... because then I went to Macy's and all the 14's fit) so I had to go get another suit. A $120 expense I wasn't expecting. And beyond that, the only pair of nice close-toed shoes I have--the heel is broken ! So tomorrow I'll have to go to DSW or more hopefully Payless and spend another $20-40 on shoes for an interview for a job I may not even get. But I suppose in the long run, a suit or two is not a bad thing to have.
I tried on dresses while I was at Macy's too. I actually think I looked good in 5 of the 6 (and the 6th fit but it just hit me at a strange spot and made me look even shorter). I have a really nice and classic work-appropriate dress I wish I could wear to the interview but oh well (it's similar to this one in black: Wear to Work Dress )
Anyway. Could wear a sweater with it. And I need to tone down my nail polish and makeup. Is navy eyeliner inappropriate ? It's not as harsh on my eyes as black and it makes my eyes look greener and the whites whiter (lol is this a Tide commercial ?). This is the only thing I've always hated about so-called "real" jobs and why I think I would enjoy going to cosmetology school... now, it's possible when I get there I find out they may not mind if I have my own style but I know one reason Amanda hated working at Grant Thornton was their strict and very conservative dress code, and now she has a more lenient dress code (ironically working at Wright-Patt AFB). She said it was because there was always the chance clients would be at GT and they don't really have clients at her job at WPAFB. Unfortunately I've already been told that this IT company says the receptionist is like the gatekeeper and face of the company so... neutral nail polish, here I come. :(
I don't know. I started feeling so much better about myself when I was at 7 and could wear a lot of nice things and pretty colors. Even at Benetton I could kind of control what I wore. But then again, Melanie loves makeup but tells me being active duty they have stipulations, and then Catie (her sister) is a nurse so she wears scrubs all the time and although she loves makeup, she says she forgoes it a lot of the time because it either doesn't last or it's just too much work when she's around sick people and washing her hands constantly. So I shouldn't complain. I think it's more just the feeling... I hate myself in suits. I equate suits with powerful people and I feel SO uncomfortable in them. I don't mind dark jeans and a blazer (which I think still looks professional) but full suits ? Expensive and boring. That's why I started trying on dresses--to get my mind in a happier place because suits are just not made for short people (and even less so for short people who are not stick thin) and I wasn't going to have enough time to have one tailored, so I needed one that fit relatively well off the rack.
Anyway. So this interview is Monday. And I do hope they offer it to me and like me. Despite my reservations, I know I can do the job. And do I aspire to be a receptionist the rest of my life ? No, especially because most reception positions (this one included) don't require a degree even if they may prefer someone with a degree. I'll get my hands dirty for them and do what's expected and maybe what's not expected (if I think I'm capable). But I would accept the job knowing that come August I'll be resigning whether or not they like me (it's temp-to-hire, so it's technically temporary anyway but... blah). I won't say anything until then... maybe I'll lie and say my parents are moving back to Ohio and I'm from Ohio and have a friend who offered a room to me and I think it's the best option, so they at least feel like I would have liked to stay but just couldn't due to circumstances.
Oh the other thing is that despite my asking to send an updated resume, Kim sent this company my old one from when I was still at Benetton. I don't like that now they think I'm still there and I don't know how to answer the question if they ask. They may wonder why I wasn't on top of keeping my resume updated (which isn't true, as I asked Kim and she said she would just use the one I gave her back in October). So that's an unnecessary worry I have. Ugh.
~Rachel
P.S. When Kim sent the confirmation email after telling me on the phone that my interview was Monday at 3, she wrote in the email it was Friday at 3 (this was on Thursday). I nearly had a heart attack (because she had told me it was on Monday and I'd repeated it to her on the phone the day before) and I called her and emailed her to confirm. And sure enough, it was Monday at 3 (she didn't admit making a mistake, she was just like "You're correct ! Monday at 3"). I wish I could tell my interviewers that I'm so good with dates my temp contact messed up the interview time and I actually had the right one from memory alone.
P.P.S. It's now been over 3 months since seeing Cori... and again, I probably won't see him until we're actually in a place together in July or August... which is going to be fun trying to find since neither of us have a job in Ohio yet and we don't live anywhere near the state...
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