I would never feel comfortable doing a job interview in a coffee shop, but these are modern times. Two fellows met and clearly they had known each other in school. The applicant laid it on a little thick with the ‘bonhomie’ that came with past acquaintance. The interviewer kept good boundaries but was distinctly cool in his response to the warmth flowing his way. They sit. Neither has a coffee.
The first question?
“This isn’t on my list of questions for the interview today, but I want to start with it anyways. Are the words ‘fag’ and ‘retard’ and ‘bitch’ still in your vocabulary for interacting with people you feel better than?”
If they had had coffee that moment would have frozen in the cup.
Apologies toppled over a desperate plea for employment. The applicant looked destroyed but acknowledged it had been a fair question.
“I’m not that guy anymore,” he said.
“Good, because I’m not hiring that guy, lets go through the rest of the interview.”
What followed was a typical interview.
“Am I going to be considered for the position?” he asked.
“Yes,” the interview said, “but I have to really think about it.”
“That’s fair.”
“More than fair!” The words slipped out of my mouth without me being able to stop them, the two of them snapped their heads over to see me.
I just waved and pretended to look at the paper.
