Adventures in the City

I went on a interview today in the city!! I know. I have a lot of explaining to do.

My main complaint with work (which are many) is that working 5 days a week, 8 hours a day prevents me from doing a serious job and/or internship search. At first I thought this was some bullshit excuse to validate not wanting to work at the bookstore but after a successful week of applying to jobs and internship, I think I may have been right.

My supervisor (the one i hate) accidentally schedule me for four days off this week instead of the three i requested. At first I was like, "crap i am going to get a sucky paycheck", but then i figured that during my four days off I could get some work done. And by work I mean I could send a crapload of applications for various jobs and internships that could enhance my resume.

To make a long story short, I sent an application to a newspaper that runs weekly throughout NYC and the tri-state area. It's an internship but i would get some editorial and writing experience all at the same place. Plus the newspaper is tailored for people in the arts (mainly actors and models).

I actually found the ad through craiglist. Now I am not one of those people who is comfortable answering ads through craiglist but sometimes there are listings that i cannot pass by. I sent over my cover letter on Tuesday, and later that evening I got a call from the "new" editor. He left a message and said to give him a call so we could set up a meeting.

By the time i got that message it was 8pm, and I knew that i would have to call in the morning to schedule something. At 10 the next morning I spoke with the 'new' Editor and planned an interview for today at 2pm. This time i tried to be more prepared than i have been on my last two interviews with very important people. I prepared a writing sample, printed out my resume, and created a list of my favorite movies with the directors names and actors who appeared in them. I also checked out the newspapers website and tried to get a sense of what they are trying to established in the entertainment business.

This morning I was nervous but prepared. I bought a sweater from H & M that i thought would read "fun yet professional". Thanks to GQ I have become obsessed with two things a) Scott Speedman and b) everything that encompasses Maine, including a new found appreciation for plaid. No lie. I have one plaid shirt that i thought would look perfect under my new sweater. Yesterday I went to the mall with my aunt and cousin to find a perfect sweater I could wear over the plaid shirt. At three Michelle has already decided that she does not like shopping. If she gets anywhere near a clothes store she retreats in frustration.

So upon walking into H&M she began protesting our being there. This did not make shopping easy and though I saw a sweater that would go perfect with the plaid, I did not have the chance to try it on. I fluctuate between a size S and XS and due to my eating habits lately I am leaning towards the latter. I grabbed the XS, paid the 20 bucks and then we headed home.

Of course when i got home, the XS made me feel like a stuffed burrito. It was not pretty. I didn't think i would make a good impression looking like I had stuffed myself into a shirt a size to small. So I just wore my argyle sweater, and slacks. Simple yet professional.

At 12 I headed into the city, with only an address and my warm boots. I asked severally people beforehand for directions and each gave me a different one. This is the first time i have been in the city by myself and I was more nervous then i would like to admit. When i got off the train there were so many people and so much going on that I got sucked into a crowd going in the direction far from the office. After a small detour to the library I made a quick turn in the opposite direction and eventually found my way to the building via a very nice girl working at Anne Taylor.

When i got to the newspaper building, I had a horrible thought that maybe this was some huge scam. Maybe I was walking into a sex dungeon where a creepy guy awaited me with plans to keep me as his captive for twelve years. Damn you Dateline. I mean it didn't hit me until i got to the building that this could be some weird craiglist thing. Maybe the person i talked to was not affiliated with the newspaper at all, maybe he was just some sicko looking for young editorial types to use in his SEX DUNGEON. Once again...Damn you Dateline.

It wasn't that the building was sketchy but I guess I imagined a big sign, and a crap load of journalist smoking outside talking about politics and movies. Instead it was a rather simple building with some valet guy giving me the stank eye because I was staring aimlessly for at least a minute. When I did enter the building I made my way to the third floor and found the room where i was suppose to have my interview. Once again the presence of the door freaked me out. I was expecting something...bigger. I was an hour early so I hung out near the door hoping to hear something from inside. I figured if I heard something too creepy I could slink away unharmed.

At 1:45 I rang the doorbell and was greeted by some skinny dude with a bald head. For an instant i thought of fleeing but then I looked down and saw he was wearing Converse shoes, and what Sex Dungeon capture would rock converse. The 'new' editor was hella nice. At first he seemed kind of stuffy, but once we started talking about movies he relaxed a little. I guess I forgot that posting an ad on craiglist is a little more frightening than answering one. You are inviting who knows what to your place of business. Though i was not required to bring a resume or a writing sample, he was impressed that i brought both. He asked me some questions, told me about the magazine, gave a description of intern responsibilities and then we talked about Tim Burton.

I think i was personable and knowledgeable, and he kept giving me a look that said "we may have something here". He said he would call me on Wednesday to tell me if the position is mine. I felt like it went well, and having an internship in the city two days out of the week would be sweet. Plus a perk that i was not counting on....If i prove to be a good writer than i can write reviews for independent films that are being screened in the city. Which means I would get free tickets to movies.

I am excited. I feel like this could be a real possibility. I think i could be making some kind of progress. Progress feels good.