One Interesting Week

I already knew what would cap off my amazing week on Sunday. So, while my father was out shopping with my sister, I stayed home, contrary to my usual. Typically I go shopping with my father, however, I needed to make sure that I was fully prepared for Saturday. So study I did.

It was Monday when my week became truly interesting. In search of better pay and a more positive work environment, I applied at a sub place, hoping that maybe I would score a shift leader position. Monday was the interview.

Though the interview was quite strange--there were no proper interview questions (he asked me what my favorite TV show, movie, and book was)--I was not expecting it to take the turn that it did. After talking about the Civil Air Patrol, the only thing on my resume that he read, we discussed what my availability would be. Then when I thought I would be able to start.

“Probably in two weeks, that way I can put in my two-week’s,” I replied.

“Oh, you have a job?” he asked, surprised. “Where do you work?”

It is on my resume, I thought. Did you not read it? Though CAP shows my leadership abilities, my current job shows how hard I work. I not only am a trainer, but I promoted to the highest possible position for my age within my first seven months there… “[Chicken fast food place],” I answered.

“[Chicken fast food place]?” he asked in disbelief. He opened his phone and searched for my resume. Skimming over it, he found it and said, “Yep, there it is. Can you make a sandwich?” he asked condescendingly.

Taken aback by the question and the rude way he delivered it, I blinked a few times, hesitated, and said, “Y-yeah, I can make a sandwich.”

“Well, I have had three people from [Chicken fast food place], two of them were absolutely terrible, and the other was only okay.”

The interview continued for quite some time like this. It was no longer an interview: it was now a session of him talking poorly of past coworkers. Eventually, we circled back around to pay. “So, because of your current place of employment, I am going to have to start you lower than I would others,” he said. I could not convince him to change it, so I turned down the job. Though, judging from the interview, it was probably a good thing. I am trying to leave that negative environment, and this ‘interview’ told me that I would be moving from one negative environment to another.

I find it funny how he went from absolutely impressed because he read the name of the first thing on my resume, to thinking I was a total piece of garbage. I should add that my resume consists of two places of employment… it truly is not the type of resume you read the first item and move on with.

On Tuesday, something exciting happened. Classes started! No, no. Not school. Far better, far more important: on Tuesday, my squadron officially began hosting classes for the FAA written exam. Soon, I will be flying!

It was an amazing class, though it was but an introduction, and slightly impromptu due to an incident the teacher had during that week. He likes to go off on tangents, but, fortunately, his tangents remained educational and on-topic.

Wednesday was met with another interview.

We were supposed to join over a call at 6 P.M. . She did not call. So, I called her, thinking maybe it was I who was to do the calling, and she hung up on me. After waiting for half an hour, I finally sent her a message, asking when the interview was. She apologized and called ten minutes later, after telling me she would call in five.

This already was setting off some red lights.

This was no interview.

She asked me if I knew what the place was, explained it to me, then asked my shirt size. “Small?” she guessed.

Still waiting for the interview to start, I said, “No, I’m a medium.”

“A medium? Well, let him have what he wants… What’s your availability? You’re in school, so probably five to close…”

“I would actually rather work in the mornings since I am homeschooled,” I said.

“No, no, we can’t just interrupt your schooling like that! Even if you’re homeschooled. There are regulations and things.”

Well, I mean, I work in the mornings at my current job…

She then continued to tell me what my availability would be. “I’ll call you on Friday to discuss availability,” she said, “and I will need you to be at the restaurant at 4 P.M. [the next week], okay? Just make sure you send me a picture of your social security number and I.D. so I can set direct deposit and things up. Okay? Buh-bye now, Caleb.”

I left the interview in denial, but I knew deep down the reality of my situation. I let Dad know what happened, and, rather than pointing out the obvious, he told me that I need to reconsider accepting the job, and not to send my social and I.D. (which I was not going to do anyway).

Still in denial, though beginning to accept it, I told my friend. Who read the messages to his brother and cousin (who are also my friends), and was overheard by his cousin’s father. All three came to the conclusion that I had finally accepted and was no longer denying, and my friend quickly responded. “That is a scam.”

I believe entirely that this interview was a scam. The place I applied for is opening soon, and if this is how they truly conduct mass hirings, they need to reconsider. Because it is unacceptable, shady, and very much set up like a scam. I do not think that it was truly the person hiring that I spoke to.

I will be stopping by the restaurant when they open to ask about it. Though I believe it was a scam, I still have a small bit of doubt that it was not. I am just glad that I saw through it before it was too late to turn back. She did not call me on Friday, might I add.

Thursday was pretty normal. Cleaned my room, practiced guitar, and talked to my best friend for quite a while.

Friday, I worked, got a haircut, made some preparations for my huge day on Saturday, and I went to sleep. Oh! Not after first getting a new personal record for my fastest mile! Five minutes and fifty-five seconds.

On Saturday, it was one of the coolest days of my life. I got to ride in, and fly momentarily, a glider as well as perform the ground handling of the aircraft. This was through Civil Air Patrol. I cannot wait to do it again! I was informed that they will be doing one more for our squadron before October, that way I can get more than one out of my possible five glider flights in before I reach the too-old-to-do-it-free age of eighteen.

Flying a few feet off of the ground while the tow plane is still on the ground is quite the feeling, I must say.

The cadets that I met were quite fun to be around. One stood out particualrly, and I cannot wait to meet up with him again some day.

One could say that I had one interesting week.