70 Years old, by far the oldest person sitting in a room of 27, waiting for a chance to apply for a job sterilizing medical/surgical equipment (entry level) at a currently unknown salary, working who knows how many hours a week, at a yet-to-be-determined location.
There are another 12-15 souls in the foyer who are also waiting ahead of me for an interview. In the past 5 minutes only two names have been called for whatever is the next step in the process, and 6 more applicants have arrived, so it looks like it could be a bit of a wait at this point (unless a miracle happens, which, of course, I am always open to.)
As tempus fugits (what’s the Latin word for “crawls at a snail’s pace”) I have ample time to consider the finer points of my job search here today, to whit: Do I really want to invest this much time seeking a job I heard of for the first time just a week ago and about which I know precious little? Knowing what I do know about this job, do I really want to risk getting cut, pricked, or otherwise exposed to some, possibly, deadly disease that someone else clearly sought treatment to rid him/herself of? How do I convince my interviewer that, of the 50 or so (so far) other eager applicants, I am the one — I, the guy with the gray goatee (albeit the most handsome guy in the room) am the one he/she should risk his/her career to hire? What if this job is really shitty? Given all the above, how much time am I willing to spend waiting here before I blow this joint and get on with my day? (On a related note, do I have anything better/more important to do if I do leave?)
(Another 15 minutes of my life have passed/expired since the last name was called. Getting on with my day is looking more and more like an attractive option.)
More questions arise as I continue my vigil: What are the odds that I can beat out the (now) 60 other candidates for this position? Even though this process is a font of valuable insights, do I yet have sufficient material for a decent blog (this being the end of my second page of handwritten blather)?
Decision made for me: I was supposed to fill out an on-line application before coming for an interview — I can’t be interviewed without it. (Who knew?)
It was probably a shitty job anyway.
Thoughts by an Old Hippie Curmudgeon 