Two nights ago, I saw a posting on Craigslist for a decent-pay position at a chiropractic office near Fisherman's Wharf. {For those of you that don't know, Fasha is a chiropractor and it's been a close part of my life since I can remember. I've worked many o' summers for him and am actually currently doing online marketing for his practice as a little p/t job for the last several months. So when I saw this ad, my immediate thought was: Score!}
Anyway.
Yesterday, at 11:00, I trekked over to their office, complete with resume and cover letter, as requested.
For about 3 minutes, we had a quick little intro chit chat and I explained my background with chiropractic and how I thought the job would be a great fit, blah, blah, blah. They then explained to me that they were looking for someone who could work in a fast-paced environment, handle patients, and all the while be a "Big Ball of Love."
Got it. I can definitely do that, ma'am!
We then said our goodbyes, and I left.
At 12:30, they called me and asked me to come back at 2:00 for a group interview.
I showed up at 1:45. Because, you know, I'm punctual like that.
Then this other Asian girl walked in shortly after me, ready to tackle the group interview as well, I presumed. Asian rivalry at its best. Just kidding. But, not really.
So THEN, we had to do the most extensive interview ever, complete with thorough testing. They go as follows:
1. Math Test. Okay, so the addition? No problem. Subtraction? Piece of cake. Multiplication with 4 numbers on top and 4 numbers on bottom? Uhhh...... hold on, hold on. I know I'm Asian and this should be second nature, but whaaaaat? I have to solve 5467x3426 WITHOUT a calculator? That's just nonsense, if you ask me. I somehow pulled a number out of my ass, but I'm definitely not confident it was correct. But since when do chiropractors require math skills to be a part of the equation? Isn't that what calculators are for?
2. Filing Test. As in: Here are 25 names. Write them all in alphabetical order. And there are 4 different "Smiths" and 6 different "Thompsons" and there's a Seither AS WELL as a Siether. Dun dun dun. Sounds easy, but under pressure, you definitely second guess your ABC skills. I double checked my work though. Pretty sure I had that in the bag.
3. Compare These Numbers Test. They gave us 5 minutes to quickly look over a page of numbers, like this:
Anyway.
Yesterday, at 11:00, I trekked over to their office, complete with resume and cover letter, as requested.
For about 3 minutes, we had a quick little intro chit chat and I explained my background with chiropractic and how I thought the job would be a great fit, blah, blah, blah. They then explained to me that they were looking for someone who could work in a fast-paced environment, handle patients, and all the while be a "Big Ball of Love."
Got it. I can definitely do that, ma'am!
We then said our goodbyes, and I left.
At 12:30, they called me and asked me to come back at 2:00 for a group interview.
I showed up at 1:45. Because, you know, I'm punctual like that.
Then this other Asian girl walked in shortly after me, ready to tackle the group interview as well, I presumed. Asian rivalry at its best. Just kidding. But, not really.
So THEN, we had to do the most extensive interview ever, complete with thorough testing. They go as follows:
1. Math Test. Okay, so the addition? No problem. Subtraction? Piece of cake. Multiplication with 4 numbers on top and 4 numbers on bottom? Uhhh...... hold on, hold on. I know I'm Asian and this should be second nature, but whaaaaat? I have to solve 5467x3426 WITHOUT a calculator? That's just nonsense, if you ask me. I somehow pulled a number out of my ass, but I'm definitely not confident it was correct. But since when do chiropractors require math skills to be a part of the equation? Isn't that what calculators are for?
2. Filing Test. As in: Here are 25 names. Write them all in alphabetical order. And there are 4 different "Smiths" and 6 different "Thompsons" and there's a Seither AS WELL as a Siether. Dun dun dun. Sounds easy, but under pressure, you definitely second guess your ABC skills. I double checked my work though. Pretty sure I had that in the bag.
3. Compare These Numbers Test. They gave us 5 minutes to quickly look over a page of numbers, like this:
12,314.66 12,341.66
33,443.33 33,443.33
56,789.22 56,799.22
44,555.99 44,556.99
And then we had to place a check mark next to the rows that did not match each other. Seemed a tad elementary at first, but after I went through it twice, then double checked my work, I realized I missed one. Maybe two. But it's okay, I'm sure it was definitely at 100% by the time the buzzer sounded. I think.
4. Role Play. We had a few minutes to memorize a little "Patient Interaction" script. Then we had to role play with the administrator. It went a little something like this:
"Hello Mrs. Jones, please come with me. I have a 3-minute video for you to watch that will introduce you to the office. You can go ahead and press the red power button when it's over and Dr. ______ will be right with you."
So, obviously, I rocked that, because well, at one point, acting was my life, remember?
After the testing, they had me go to a back room with the Doctor while the other girl waited out front. The doc explained again that they needed someone who could direct the traffic of the office all while being a "Big Ball of Love." <---there was that term again. She wanted someone that would never be sick, would work hard, and not be on Facebook because she was, and I quote, "Tired of that shit."
I came back out to the front and they took the other girl to the back room for a talk, but then after 30 seconds, the girl came back, told me good luck, then grabbed her purse and left! I was the only one remaining. At this point, it had already been a solid hour and a half.
So THEN, they asked me to stay for an hour, manning the front desk, to see how I would interact with the patients. So I did. And an hour passes. And then an additional half hour. And I'm wondering when they're going to let me go because the poor Dizzle has been waiting out in the lobby this whole time and now it's been a good 3 hours! Finally, they said good job, they want me to come back, they'd be in touch that evening, and I left.
At this point, I felt like I couldn't get out that door fast enough. No, really, I couldn't. Because I was hobbling from the excruciating pain my new pumps were putting me in. So instead, I hobbled out the door.
Under those bandaids are disgusting blisters now. Thanks, Steve Madden.
So ANYWAY. The Dizz greeted me, blisters and all, and we hopped on a trolley for home.
And then the overwhelming tears came, smudging The Dizzle's shoulder. But why, you may be thinking? Hadn't I just scored a job on my very first interview? Isn't that great news? Yes, it is. But something just didn't sit well with me. I felt so excited about the job just that morning, but then the reality of actually sitting in that office every day, doing something that I wasn't passionate about seemed overwhelmingly depressing.
I know I don't have to have the answer for my "life calling" right this moment. And I know there are so many people in jobs that isn't their "dream job." But I can't help but feel a little lost right now. One of the biggest reasons I quit my last job to travel the world was because I wasn't passionate about it. I didn't want to settle. I didn't want to waste another day behind a computer screen, unhappy. So I did something about it and it was the best decision I've ever made! So I feel like I don't want to just throw myself back into the "norm" of a random office job just because society says so. I at least want to be excited about going back to work.
I don't know about you, but I don't think leaving an interview and then immediately crying says "excitement" about the job.
Needless to say, I think it was a great experience for me. I'm glad I was able to get my feet wet and remember what it's like to interview and also remember to listen to my gut. Life is what we make it and we have infinite possibilities. And I fully intend on exploring those possibilities to the fullest.
So now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make a phone call and thank them for the opportunity, but I think I'll pass.
After the testing, they had me go to a back room with the Doctor while the other girl waited out front. The doc explained again that they needed someone who could direct the traffic of the office all while being a "Big Ball of Love." <---there was that term again. She wanted someone that would never be sick, would work hard, and not be on Facebook because she was, and I quote, "Tired of that shit."
I came back out to the front and they took the other girl to the back room for a talk, but then after 30 seconds, the girl came back, told me good luck, then grabbed her purse and left! I was the only one remaining. At this point, it had already been a solid hour and a half.
So THEN, they asked me to stay for an hour, manning the front desk, to see how I would interact with the patients. So I did. And an hour passes. And then an additional half hour. And I'm wondering when they're going to let me go because the poor Dizzle has been waiting out in the lobby this whole time and now it's been a good 3 hours! Finally, they said good job, they want me to come back, they'd be in touch that evening, and I left.
At this point, I felt like I couldn't get out that door fast enough. No, really, I couldn't. Because I was hobbling from the excruciating pain my new pumps were putting me in. So instead, I hobbled out the door.
Under those bandaids are disgusting blisters now. Thanks, Steve Madden.
SIDE NOTE: I realize this is an extremely long blog post. But I feel the need to document this journey for myself so I can remember it all when I'm old and decrepit!
So ANYWAY. The Dizz greeted me, blisters and all, and we hopped on a trolley for home.
And then the overwhelming tears came, smudging The Dizzle's shoulder. But why, you may be thinking? Hadn't I just scored a job on my very first interview? Isn't that great news? Yes, it is. But something just didn't sit well with me. I felt so excited about the job just that morning, but then the reality of actually sitting in that office every day, doing something that I wasn't passionate about seemed overwhelmingly depressing.
I know I don't have to have the answer for my "life calling" right this moment. And I know there are so many people in jobs that isn't their "dream job." But I can't help but feel a little lost right now. One of the biggest reasons I quit my last job to travel the world was because I wasn't passionate about it. I didn't want to settle. I didn't want to waste another day behind a computer screen, unhappy. So I did something about it and it was the best decision I've ever made! So I feel like I don't want to just throw myself back into the "norm" of a random office job just because society says so. I at least want to be excited about going back to work.
I don't know about you, but I don't think leaving an interview and then immediately crying says "excitement" about the job.
Needless to say, I think it was a great experience for me. I'm glad I was able to get my feet wet and remember what it's like to interview and also remember to listen to my gut. Life is what we make it and we have infinite possibilities. And I fully intend on exploring those possibilities to the fullest.
So now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make a phone call and thank them for the opportunity, but I think I'll pass.
xoxo
