Employment

Well I succeeded to the idea that I was going to be able to get another design job before my unemployment was up. There was the option to file for a 20-week extension, but I need something to do. And I need more money than unemployment was providing --- thank you gov't, but I'll handle things from here.

I had a mini-panic attack this past Friday when I realized I had 4 more unemployment checks before my account was out. That's 2 months. What am I going to do in 2 months? I haven't found a job in 5 months, what will magically make one materialize in 2? Especially at the end of the year when companies don't have any money left in their budget. So I attacked the bartending wanted ads on facebook, showered, got 'dressed up', printed out my bartending resume, and went to pursue a couple bartending postings.

First one I arrived at was in a strip mall on Sawmill Rd in Dublin. Nice area, right next to a golf course. However, I was intimidated as soon as I stepped in the door. The bartender behind the bar had short jet black hair, a tight black tank top on, wings tattooed to her back, bra straps showing, tight spandexie shorts and knee high black boots. 'Oh man' I thought 'I can't go back to dressing like that to make tips.' Mind you, I never too it quite that far in college at the sports bars, but I've been known to wear low enough cut tank tops to show off a red lacy bra, or push the limits on how short the skirt can be. It paid my way through college.

So I smiled and asked her for an application. A man at the bar patted the chair and said 'Take a seat, I'm the owner' I said hello, sat down and slyly pushed up my Vicki's bra. And then it got even more awkward. There was another bartender girl, brown hair, sitting on the other side of the owner. She smiled and introduced herself (I'm horrible with names, for the life of me I can't remember hers). The owner read over my resume while I filled out the application, looked at the brown haired bartender and said 'So what do you think?' She shrugged 'She's cute, blond. We don't have any blonds, you should hire her.'

I definitely felt like a piece of meat at that point. 'At least you're cute' I thought to myself. I could be the worst bartender you've ever met and you just hire me like that? Crazy. The owner talked to me a little more, hired me, then asked me to come back later that night to talk to the manager about scheduling.

Alright, back into the car. I drive across town to Polaris Mall to find where Dave & Buster's is opening a new location and see about their interviews. I had seen their post on craigslist asking for Servers, Kitchen Staff, Bartenders, etc. But I had also noticed that they had been posting these positions for hire for weeks. What would my chances be? With so many people out of work, all of OSU's students coming back to campus... they would have to be full.

I walked into an vacant store space in the mall where D&B were renting out space to hold interviews. There were 5 or 6 tables set up with applications and pens laid out. I smiled at the people behind the computers, sat down and started filling out an ap. I finished, took that and my resume up to the man, Seth. He looked it over 'Applying for a bartending position?' 'Yup, that cocktail, or wait staff' I said. 'Have a minute to talk?' 'Absolutely' and I followed him to one of the tables and sat down.

We talked for about half an hour about what drinks I knew by heart, why I liked bartending, where I wanted to be in 3 years, where had I worked, what I liked about those places, what would I do if someone needed cut-off, how could I tell if they needed cut-off, etc etc etc. I was surprised with how few drink recipes I could think of off the top of my head. After the interview I was kicking myself - I know a ton more, just froze up I guess. No matter, I did get the job.

After the majority of the questions he said 'Well I'll tell you what, I'm going to hire you. You seem knowledgable and reliable. But I have one serving position open and one bartending position open - and I have someone in mind for the bartending position already.' I had been pretty passive the entire interview. Just answering questions and polite conversation. When he said this, I jumped into action...

'I'll tell you what' I said 'I've helped open two bars as a bartender. I know how openings and the first month goes. You can hire your friend, or whoever you have in mind as the bartender, and I'll take the serving position. But in 2-3 weeks when one of the bartenders isn't working out, or they don't show up to a shift and there's an open position - I get that bartending position.'

He smiled at me 'Okay, you can have the bartending position. How's Monday at 9am for orientation?'



:)

Now if I could get a design interview and use those persuasion tactics on them!