Job Search: Scenario 2

At another Starbucks in the neighborhood, I witnessed a job interview being conducted. A gentleman, well dressed in a suit and tie, eagerly sat across from two men discussing his experience as a manager in various places as well as his connection to the community. The interview flowed, and the conversational dynamic between the three made it seem like this gentleman had already been hired. But, then came the kicker. They discussed where he’d be working if he got the job…in a prison. Also in the course of the conversation, questions about safety in the prison while working with inmates and comments about his family commitments came up. As the conversation was winding down, one interviewer asked, “And how about the salary? Are you OK with making $12 an hour?” The interviewee replied, “I am fine with it as long as there is room for growth and opportunities to move up in the company as you had mentioned.” Well said oh young and eager interviewee. The interview came to an end with the interviewee shaking hands with the employers and stating, “I look forward to hearing from you in a couple of days.” The interviewee placed the chair back that he had borrowed from a nearby table and smiled at me on the way out.

Job Search: Scenario 1

I sat at a corner table observing as one young man entered the Starbucks café. He ran into a young woman he knew that was sitting at a table in the middle of the café, who was barely able to focus on what was in front of her. The hellos came and went, then the topic swiftly changed to his new job opportunity that he was just notified about. As he went on and on about this new job, he wandered back and forth from ordering at the counter, grabbing some napkins from the condiment bar, and setting up camp at a corner table close to his friend. He was ecstatic. But, now he had a decision to make, what does he do with the current part-time job he is holding? When does he tell them he is leaving or should he keep it as a part-time job? The young woman listened. After he finally got settled and gave her a chance to speak, she made a comment, “yeah, I’m over here working on my cover letters,” then a nervous laugh erupted.