After quite a few years of working part time, from home, temping... so I could have some more time to spend with my kids and help them through the big high school transition, I decide to go back to a full time job. Something I would enjoy, being part of a team, being challenged, something creative, but not too much of the target driven stress I experienced in the past.
I did all the right things: saw a career adviser, got my resume up to date, even got on Linkedin!
After some carefully chosen applications, I got my first interview! Yeah! An administrative role in an advertising agency, right up to my alley and hopefully it is a nice, not too big agency and I can maybe get involved in some of the creative side of the business, maybe! A girl can dream!
I have the whole day to get ready, so I take my time, iron my clothes, I even have my own "Pretty Woman" moment (without Richard Gere unfortunately!), I apply some make-up (not too much, I don't want to look too fake and anyway it is not my style so I want them to see who I really am, bla, bla, bla!).
I am there, finally! Really cool place, any doubts I had about this job previously are going out the window (opened the window! and no air conditioning freezing your bones, which for middle of the city office building is pretty rare!). All seems to be going well, nice chat with the two managers, really lovely and easy going and suddenly it happens!
I feel myself going hot and, I am sure of it, bright red, boiling lobster style! Why? Why? Why? I can't even remember the last time I blushed like that, sooooo embarrassing!!!
I could not let it go and made a very smart comment, cutting myself mid-sentence and saying something along the lines of : "and I have no idea why I am feeling so hot right now!!!!" Duh! really! this is all you can think of?
My two interviewers being really lovely commented on how hot is it in their office and how they have been having issues with the air conditioning lately.
But there you have it, I am sure I was brilliant (or nearly there) with what I said for once and I blew it because of my red face (which was still red when I got out and checked myself in the lift mirror!). And the lady waiting for her turn after me looked cool as a cucumber, not the kind to have an embarrassing blushing interview like I had!
Big lesson learned: for the next interview I go to, I will apply much more make-up so the blushing will stay hidden behind it and I will carry an ice-pack under my clothes and some hand warmers in my pockets! This way I will be ready whatever comes my way!
Interviews here I come!!
