Today I had another interview within Hearst- the security guards in the building on 300 W. 57th all know me by name, where I have been interviewing, how many times I have met with each magazine/department, where I am from and my current situation living with me aunt. The security guards are very nice and even offered to hold onto my rain boots while I was in my interview (today it was a monsoon). Basically- they are on team Brandi (one piece of advice I can give to everyone- the most important people to be friends with are: security guards, lunch ladies and janitors, if your in with them, your in with everybody. This is a fact..) There was nothing unusual with my meeting today with the security guards, I showed up 20 minutes early to give myself 5 minute chat time with them to ask how their week was going and so on. The gentleman printed my guest pass and called up to the 37th floor which I was going to. I went up to the elevator and rode up.
On the arrival to the 37th floor, I realized that it was the Cosmo floor but the other half of the building wasn't cosmo so I assumed that the digital team was there (even though the floor seemed deserted). I knocked on the glass door of the Cosmo side because that was the only sign of life. I told the man who answered the door who I was looking for, and he said "Oh no, Not again. Honey, you're in the wrong building." First thought in my mind: EXCUSE ME? He assured me that it happens all the time and that even a girl interviewing for the same position and who even interned for a different magazine within Hearst went to the wrong building. So then I felt a little better for my confusion. The comfort didn't do much for the fact that I was still in the wrong building, it was raining outside and I had 5 minutes to get there. I got downstairs as fast as humanly possible, got my rain boots from the security guards and ran my butt off the few blocks. Finally making it to the right building to a new set of security guards who in a matter of 45 seconds made friends with and persuaded them to hold onto my boots (gotta love the security).
Finally making it to the right 37th floor, the right division of Hearst and the right office. Thank goodness. I sit down in the office of the interviewer and I am sweating bullets, literally. I have to take off my jacket I am so hot and out of breath. Thankfully, the women I met with were very sweet and completely understood, got me water and after a few minutes we were laughing about the entire situation and got on with the interview.
But a few things really did bother me...
1) If this happens all the time, wouldn't you think my friends at the security desk would tell me that I was at the wrong building? It just so happens that they had no idea the office they were calling to tell I had arrived was a few blocks down because everyone has the same extension. So rule of thumb: Double check where you are going, even if you think you have been there... Surprise, you might be wrong.
2)If this job opening is also considering a past intern from another magazine within Hearst, does this mean the same thing that happened with the job I didn't get, which was within Hearst as well, will happen with this position? If they are more likely to hire from within but they are more than willing to interview from other sources, what can I do to stand out?Other than the tings that I already do. (if anybody has suggestions or answers.. please let me know. I'm stumped)
3) Finally, this not so much bothered me, but intrigued me. I did not know that its unusual to be friends with the security or other people I listed that are important. These people hold the keys to everything. Door locks, paper towels, extra bread rolls. Be friends with them.
So what Lesson did I learn today?
Double check where you are going. Simple as that. (I got the research part down before an interview, now have to know where I am going... but I pray to a higher being that I will not have to worry about this much longer, because that would mean that I go a job.....)
Peace, Love and owning Broadway,
B
You are my daughter!! But were the lunch room ladies hurting or helping me with the extra rolls?
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