The
Phone Interview
The
employment ad in the newspaper caught my eye immediately. And, after
a particularly nerve-wracking week trying to teach middle school
science kids, I thought, “What the heck, I’m going to give this a
try.”
The
ad concerned an opening for a pharmaceutical sales position in the
Altoona Mirror, and having a biological science and chemistry
background, I thought it might be a good fit.
My
view of life
Throughout
my teaching career, the employment grass always looked greener to me
elsewhere, even though I’m red-green color blind. So, this is
another example where I didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to
look into another career.
All
this took place well before applications were available online, so I
filled out the necessary paperwork, cover letter, and resume and I
sent it out in the mail within two days.
Quick
response
Only
a few days went by and I received an evening phone call from an
interviewer with the company inquiring if I would be available for a
more lengthy phone session to be scheduled during the upcoming
Saturday. The caller said that if the initial interview goes well, I
would be called back for a face-to-face interview in their office at
a time mutually convenient for both parties.
After
a quick glance at the monthly items on the calendar, I gladly agreed
to that Saturday afternoon. I assumed it would be a good time for me.
Babysitting
record
My
wife and two daughters were planning to go shopping that day, and I
was to babysit my son, who was about two and a half to three years
old at the time. My past babysitting experiences, while my wife did
her Christmas shopping, never occurred to me as I agreed to that
phone interview. Let’s just say that my track record during these
babysitting assignments was not good.
I
had everything covered
My
instructions to my son were not new as I answered the phone that
Saturday afternoon. He knew fully well not to interrupt Mom or Dad when
they were on the phone unless it was an emergency.
So,
when the phone rang, I naturally thought it was safe to talk. He was
playing with Lego Building Blocks on the floor and that activity
usually kept him busy for a good while.
About
four or five minutes into the interview (which wasn’t going
particularly well, I might add), my son jumped up and made a few
steps toward me. I quickly gave him the sign with my pointer finger
in the air, which meant “One minute, please.”
The
sign failed
He
didn’t stop or pause like I thought he would. Instead, a distressed
look came over his face as he continued toward me. He was running
now full speed ahead.
“Please
excuse me for one second,” I politely requested to the interviewer.
As
I dropped the phone to thigh level, I was about to ask my son what
was bothering him and remind him that Daddy was on the phone. And,
no, I didn’t think to cover the receiver with my hand.
But,
I never got the question so much as started when he retorted loudly
with his mouth next to the phone, “Daddy, I have to poop!”
I
can’t begin to recall how the rest of that interview transpired.
All I know is that I never did get the invitation for the next
face-to-face meeting.
The
important conclusion to this story is that my son did make it to the
bathroom safely, without issue. And I learned to never accept an
invitation to do a phone interview ever again – at least while my
kids were still living at home and I was in charge.
Author's
note: My attempts at writing
old stories will come to an end with this calendar year. It has been
a pleasure reminiscing those good old days with my readers.
