Back to the grindstone…

Alright… now that my teaching days are well behind me and I’ve re-entered the real world, I’ve become accustomed to different types of questions. I no longer give permission to go to the bathroom, help to spell simple words (at least not as often), or explain why it’s not nice to punch Crystal in the face and call her a dirty ho. No. The questions - really it’s just one question - that I answer now is much more formidable.

“What are you going to do for money.”

And I’ve found an answer. Temping.

Sent out a resume on Friday, called on Monday to follow up, set up an interview for Tuesday, went in to take some computer-aptitude tests (word, excel, typing etc.) and talked with some placement agents, was interviewed at a computer consulting company later that day. My placement guy prefaced my interview with a warning that the president was “a guy a lot like Donald Trump… really down to business and intimidating.” So I put on my toughest face.

To make a long story short, there has been a lot of back and forth, but I’m not a computer guy (Mom, I know you think I am, but I’m really not) and it’s a computer company. The president there, however, seems to really like that I’m a Stanford grad and spent the day today asking around all over the company if there was somewhere I could be placed. There wasn’t, so he called me today and said that, if I wanted, he could show me what he does. I guess he’s been spending really late nights and is sick of it. He was thinking that if I could catch on to what he was doing well enough to do it myself (run the company?!) then he would have me do that during the day with him, and then maybe he could go home at the same time as everyone else. So I’m going in tomorrow for a short training to see how it goes.

I think I’m going tell him right off the bat that we should see how things go, but he shouldn’t feel like he has to hire me. I understand that I’m probably not what the company is looking for, and that if that’s the case, it’s okay. He keeps telling me: “I really want to hire you because you seem like a really good guy and I bet you’re really bright… it’s just that… well… uh…” and at this point I usually interject: “I don't really have the skill set you’re looking for?” And he’ll say (sounding relieved that he didn’t have to say it): ‘Yeah… but… you seem like a really good guy… let me check with so-and-so…”

Not really the Donald Trump I was expecting - I might actually enjoy working for him. In any case, it’s a nice way to ease into something else (even if it doesn't end up being with this company). We’ll see…

I'll leave you with a picture of me, dressed for success! Reminds me (almost too much) of the old days when I was Mr. Category.