Stacey put on her black blouse, long black skirt, dark tights, one-inch black heels and carefully chose her accessories. She had a small pair of gold studs and a pendant necklace that would complement the outfit.
She had organised herself and at 1.30pm left the hose to catch the 1.35pm bus to her destination.
When she had arrived there she had 10 minutes to spare, she thought it would look conscientious being early so she went into the building she had the address for in her bag. She went to the reception and told them she was there for a 2.30pm interview, then asked for the toilet so she could check her carefully applied make-up, she put on some more plum lipstick and then went back into the reception, feeling slightly queasy in her stomach, her hands moist and heart rate up.
She sat on the seats by reception ready for the interview. She had practiced possible questions with her friends but she didn’t know whether to tell the panel why she had been off work for the last 2 years. She could lie but as someone once told her: ‘If you live a lie, you die a liar’ so she was weighing up the pros and cons when she heard: ‘Stacey Read, please go through’.
She steadied herself then walked through to the interview room, being lead in by a grey haired, smartly dressed man: ‘Please sit, Miss Read’
‘We have read your application form and see you may have the right education, skills and attitude to work at our firm. Tell me why you are interested in the job of administrator’
‘Well, I am organized, efficient and have experience of working with computers and filing systems’
‘Can you tell us what you will offer us if you are employed?’
‘I’m trustworthy, honest, punctual, loyal. I get on well on my own initiative and part of a team and also I am flexible’
‘Can you tell us why you are applying for a job of office administrator when your last job was a maths teacher’
‘Well, I decided on a change of career because I enjoyed the paperwork part of the job and decided to go in that direction’
She sat and thought of the real reason. All the weeks and months of pressure, marking extra-curricular activities, setting lessons plus all the pushing by the heads of year to reach targets. She began to become stressed, taking time off work for colds and small ailments, until she began to become depressed and anxious. The doctor prescribed her anti-depressants but by the time they had started to work she deteriotated and suffered a breakdown. She’d always thought breakdowns were when people cried a lot and lost interest in things, but she really cracked up and went into a mental hospital, thinking the doctors were trying to poison her for 2 months. She cam out of it eventually, but it had taken 2 years to feel ready for work again.
She certainly wasn’t going to go back into teaching though. She sat and thought about telling the panel but decided against it – they wouldn’t understand and would judge her unfairly.
‘Do you think you will be able to keep up with the workload’
Well, as I say, I’m organised and know how to priotise, so as long as I plan my work I don’t see it as a problem’
‘Well, thanks Miss Read, we will be in touch with you’
WENDY 3/00