Delay, Thank Goodness
interviewer at Planning and Zoning had some sort of emergency and we had to postpone the interview until next week. Good luck for me. Went clothes shopping today (without having to rush straight to the interview. This simple delay held my sanity intact) . It was an arduous day, as I do not enjoy shopping for clothing, but fruitful, nevertheless. I did not glean as professional a wardrobe as I would have wished, but still, shiny, new, and perfectly acceptable for City Planning and Zoning. Slacks, under-blouse, cardigan sweater. Plus, the best part? I do NOT hate what I bought. It’s stuff I can actually stand to wear to interviews, to work, anywhere that requires a slightly spiffed-up version of Trish.
In any case, an improvement on my last interview in Berkeley, where I arrived in borrowed clothes. Well, they were fine, and I did get the job. It’s just that I don’t keep that sort of wardrobe on hand, really. I only need it for interviews. All the places I work generally let you wear what you want—but you still have to look spiffy for that first impression. It’s terrible. Last time it was 13 years between interviews (I know. That one career thing went really well for a long time.) So you have to buy new clothes. You can’t wear 13-year old interview clothes. Even if they still fit you.
Plus, the BEST news? I found CUTE shoes my beleagured, bunioned, abused feet can get into with comfort! A pair of velveteen Mary Janes with little heels—AND a pair of black, semi-dressy clogs (if clogs can even be semi-dressy). I thought my “cute shoe” days were over, but no! I was so happy to find cute shoes I could actually wear I went back and bought two pairs of stockings and a knee-length skirt! I had feared my feet were to be retired to the Birkenstock line and I would have to wear slacks forever (I HATE slacks, I much prefer skirts or dresses. JEANS are fine, but slacks? UGH). (You cannot find a decent job in Birkenstocks, you just cannot. Well, unless you are still in Berkeley).
In any case, that clothes thing is a huge weight off my mind. When they finally decide on the interview date I can sashay in there feeling completely comfortable (unlike in borrowed clothes) and command at least a dollar or two more an hour than they’re going to offer me. I’m kind of intrigued by this position, actually, given my interest in real-estate. Plus all the absolute corruption of any sort of public office in this state! The people I will rub elbows with alone may make this worth the while. The city must interact with the county, no? What I would really like is to work with the county. That is where some real inroads might be made. County planning and zoning. But hey, experience is experience, right? One may expect to move from city to county in time.
That begs my next question. Funding & Budget. Whose is better? Because for the city, I get the city zone & city car. I’d be much more interested in county. Rio Arriba county is big. Bigger project, further field work. You know, more time OUT OF THE OFFICE.
OK, I’m rambling. The only other job I’m up for now is painting birds and fruit and trees on ceramics for $14 an hour. And while I expect the city to offer me $10 (not sure, that’s typical though—doesn’t it suck?) I would get benefits and a leg in the door for better stuff down the line. A local gov’t history (although I’m not interested in a gov’t history) it can be useful here in many ways. Not in the least by knowing who is who (and related to who, and who is dating who, et. al.)... and making friends/acquaintances/contacts with said who’s. This is a small place. It becomes very important who you know. And everyone is related. It becomes important you also learn everyone's family history as much as possible.
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