Column: The Interview

I was sitting at the drive-in window at the A&W/KFC in Whitehall last when a memory I had blocked out for good reason resurfaced and I really wish it wouldn't have.

As I sat waiting for my Papa Burger, I was reminded of my first job interview and it instantly made me want to roll the window and spew. This is probably the first time I had thought about this wretched 15 minutes of my life since I had interview number two.

I was a 15-year-old sophomore in high school and was encouraged to get a job for the summer so near the end of the school year I decided to start glancing the want ads in the morning. I always loved to read two or three papers, or at least the sports pages, but would never pay much attention to the classifieds.

I knew my first job would most likely involve food, so I started to see who was hiring and on one morning KFC had an ad. I had my mom drive me to get an application and I took it the following day. A few days later I was pleasantly surprised when the manager called and asked me to come in the following week for the interview.

Since I had never had a job interview, I didn't know what to expect, but I figured my speaking skills would be good enough to do what was needed. A few months prior I had finished first in the state in a speech event and qualified for the national tournament so I was probably a bit too cocky and really should have asked someone what I would be expecting.

I have to admit I was not really nervous walking in, but as soon as I sat down with the manager I froze.

My not getting the job probably started and ended with the first question when he asked something along the lines of "why do you want this job".

Had I easily been prepared I could have said something, like I needed it to make some money during the summer or I'm doing it so I can buy a car, but I didn't.

In what seemed like it was probably a ten-minute response on rambled on and on and am pretty sure that at one point I said "I want this job because I want to have a place to work not only for this summer, but throughout high school, and also into college, and maybe longer. I want to commit myself to you and this family". This would go on and on for about 10 more minutes and I'm pretty sure at one point he probably thought I was going to try and live in the KFC because I was showing that much devotion. I would go on to start telling him about traveling with my grandparents and growing up. I had no idea why I was saying these things, but I could not stop. I was possessed and it was not pretty.

I'm pretty sure the store was just looking for part-time help, and I told the guy I pretty much wanted to spend the next seven or eight years working there. This was not something a 15-year-old should be saying.

There are plenty of kids who will get a part-time job and keep it for a long time, but that usually doesn't come out in the job interview.

I could see by the look on the guys face as I was answering that he was a little weirded out, and I knew I was not going to get the job.

He really didn't ask too many questions and I went on my way.

A few weeks later I got a call back after turning in an application at Wendy's.

I had learned my lesson.

I can also remember that interview.

Manager: Why do you want this job.

Jack: I want to make money this summer.

Manager: When can you start?

Jack: Right now.

Manager: Show up tomorrow.