So, Like, I Got A Job

On Monday I was working out at my usual place. I think it was during the lat pull (or was it the glutes machine?) that I saw the owner of the gym walking around with a completed job application in her hand. She looked at me and said "Hi! How are you?" I seized the moment.

"Fine, thanks. Did you just hire someone?"

"Yes, we hired two people for this gym, but I still need someone for the other one on X Road. So if you know anyone..."

I wiggled my fingers at her.

"You?"

"Yes. I'm available."

She went into a little more detail about the job, then asked me to see her when I was finished with my workout. I did, and she gave me an application to fill out. When I was finished we talked some more about the starting date. I told her I had prior obligations, and explained about my kids, and their school breaks.

"Not a problem," she said.

So the gist of it is that I went for an interview with her and her husband on Wednesday. After that, I did my workout. (When was the last time you went to a job interview in yoga pants and a t-shirt?) While I was stretching at the end of the workout, the owner came up to me and said, "I called one of your references. We're gonna hire you."

This is a part-time, low-wage position, but that's okay. It'll give me something to do (helping and encouraging other women, natch) while still allowing me to have time for myself. The best part? I can have time off to go be with my kids. Part of what kept me from applying for any jobs was the fear that no one would want to hire someone who wants two weeks off (or more) every few months.

One more thing: for more than ten years, I got jobs because people knew my name, and they called and asked me to work for them. Or they called and suggested I contact so-and-so about a position. Three years ago, I got French teacher certification, which guaranteed me a job for life. The thought of having to apply for a job, then go for an interview was so very daunting to me.  I had been out of the loop here since college, basically. That resume I wrote at the career center my senior year? I only used it once, but since I was moving to France, I only had one interview.

(That job was all about putting subtitles on video. I had to pass a proofreading test before I got an interview, and I was the only one of 20 candidates that passed the test. The HR guy told me that when he called me back in. Because I had plans to leave the country, we decided to stop the interview process at that stage. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I'd stayed for that job. $17,000 a year, downtown Pittsburgh. But I digress.)

Let me just say, it was a relief to just be able to swallow my shyness, talk to someone, and have that evolve into a job. It should always be that easy.

Comments

[Susan]

Congrats on the new job!
DSo you get a discount at the gym?

[ptooey]

Congratulations! Sounds like a pretty good setup to me.

I once had a job interview while I was drinking a beer. Got the job, too.

[LittleMike]

Great news! I hope you get a free membership!

[lily/rebecca]

congrats!! this sounds perfect for you! i'm joining curves next year, for sure.

i love interviews, actually. i've rarely had one that i haven't landed the job. silly, huh?

[mags]

Congratulations! Sounds like the right kind of thing at the right time. I hope you enjoy it. I wish my gym employed people to wander around and just generally give encouragement.

[Beez]

Yay! Sounds great. Do you get to work out for free now?

[AlisonM]

Yay for you! The time flexibility is worth a lot as a benefit. I've always said "you can make more money later, but you can never make more time."

[barb]

wow Ali!!!! that's awesome!!! I know the feeling about the shyness and hesitancy you talk about. I'm so happy for you! I hope you love it! (big hug)

[Philip]

Sounds great. Flexibility is hard to come by. Hope it works out just the way you expect.

[Seuss]

Wait. You went in for a workout and walked out for a job? At Curves? Because HA! Deciding to step out of the shyness and take a chance during a workout? That's how I got my job! At Curves! Back when I worked there. Loved. It. :)

Congrats!

[Chris]

Congratulations! That's awesome!

[Sonia]

Congratulations!! It sounds great!!

[ALY]

WHAT A RELIEF! You know that I too went through the horrors of looking for a job here after living abroad for a few years and I absolutely HATED it! It was so hard to explain to anyone what I had been doing, so I know how discouraging it is.

It is the best thing in the world to not have to do that anymore, and I'm so glad for you that you found a fun, supportive place to ease you back into the "system." Plus, some extra cash is always good!

[ally bean]

Cool beanie weenies. That is such a nice story. I want to interview in a t-shirt and yoga pants, too.

[cmhl]

yay you!

[Monty]

Congradulations! Well done! I'm going out to buy yoga pants NOW, and maybe a tiara.

[Karan]

Last February I took what I thought at the time was a peon job...low pay, part-time doing really dull stuff but it was different that anything I'd done before. I really like it and enjoy every day that I work there. Who knew?

I hope you are as lucky with this one or at the very worst...don't hate it.

[Daisy]

Woohoo! It sounds perfect, congratulations!

[Neil]

To think, I was there when you started exercising, now you're working there. Soon, you're gonna be running Curves!

[misschrisc]

Good luck Alison that sounds great. I'm happy for you.

[plain jane]

I love getting jobs like that. My last interview was in a parking lot.

A flexible job is worth so much when you have kids at home. Good for you!

[Elisabeth]

Congrats! I am still trying to decide on whether to join the university gym or Curves. I am actually going to try to make that decisions today. Yikes!

I absolutely love the notion of interviewing in yoga pants and a t-shirt (and why not, while drinking a beer on a parking lot.)

[ms. sizzle]

Fabulous!

[cassie-b]

Congratulations - I hope you just love it.

Cas
I interviewed at a major drug company library once in jeans - the only time I had ever gone to work in jeans, but was finishing up a Kelly Temp job by working in a storage room for 2 days.

I'm still there, and I never wear jeans.

[meredith]

Yay! That is great, sometimes, things just work out as if it's meant to be.

[Mist 1]

I got kicked out of a gym once. I still walk by the big glass window and mouth obscenities at them. Probably wouldn't hire me.

[Heimo]

just to repeat what millions told before - congratulation to you new job - me too have a part time job (in a driver school) & I prefer to half a part time job to a full time job - there's so much to do in real life - & what's the sense in having a full time job, if you just don't have time enough left to spend the money you earn in your overbusy job, while on the other hand other hand other people have no job at all - but in a greedy world there is no just job-sharing principle available yet (maybe in some 1000 years on..)

[peepfrench]

Congratulations!

But I think Neil has a point; I could definitely see you managing the place. More money, free membership and you'd still be given all the necessary time off when the kids come to visit!

[Teresa]

Yay! Go Alison!!! Best wishes!!!