Entry-Level & Over-qualified

They laughed at me. Seriously, just laughed. I went to LNT for my second interview and was shocked at the experience.

I know I don’t want to work there. I know I’m better suited for an enviroment full of intellectually stimulating people where motivation and ambition flourish and my passion for PR will be nourished. Linen’s and Things – as fun of a store as it may be – is not that kind of environment. But I need something and it’d be good enough for now. Except as good at BSing as I may be, the manager knew those were my thoughts exactly. This would be a job for right now and I have no intention of making it last.

I hurried up to wait. They sat me in the office until someone could interview me; the store manager tending to all sorts of disasters, asking the other assistant manager (not the one I met with just the other day) to conduct my second interview. He took me into the back room, introduced himself, slipped on his glasses and began to read through my resume – the one catered to customer service jobs.

He swallowed audibly. “I can’t interview you.” He sounded ashamed.

“What?!” After waiting a half hour already for a shit, seasonal job, I wanted to be asked my little questions and be on my way. “Why not?”

“Because…” he put my resume down and stared at me over the rims of his wire-rimmed glasses. “You’re more qualified than I am.”

I blushed.

“Seriously, with your college degree and this kind of experience… well, we ought to hire you as an assistant manager – which is what I am and so I can’t interview you. You’re way too overqualified to be an associate. I’m sorry. I’ll go get the manager.”

I went back to waiting.

She came in an explosion of papers, frantic with other – in her mind more important – things that she’d clearly rather be doing. But she was nice enough to sit down and read through my resume aloud, asking about all of my different experiences. When we had both reached the bottom of my one-paged piece of my life, she looked me in the eyes: “And you want to work in retail… why?”

The question to which I had no answer.

But I’m in PR – I think quick. “Well, I hear what a wonderful company LNT is to work for and I know that even if I started here in a lower-management position, there’s plenty of room to grow.” I smiled innocently, unable to tell if she was buying it or not. “Plus, (and then I lied:) I don’t know what I want to do (but I really do) and I love home decorating and remodeling and I think this is a fantastic store.”

She carefully considered my answer and we talked some more. I did well; interviews always seem pretty easy to me. “I’ll talk to my coworkers and get back to you next week.” Her cold, hard eyes bore into my soul, studying my intentions deeply. “We’re looking for a merchandise manager, which is slightly lower than an assistant manager, and we want him or her to be around for a long time.” Clearly she didn’t think I met either of those requirements. “But there is room to grow and you could have a future with this company.” I knew that wasn’t true. “I’ll get back to you next week.” We’ll see.