In keeping with the weekly theme of long walks, I thought I’d talk about job interviews.

I’m pretty sure I had a job interview for my first job (delivering booze to liquor stores) but it wasn’t that memorable. The first job I remember applying for at university involved programming. I do not remember why I thought I was qualified to apply, but I vaguely remember someone I knew had suggested I apply because I was a decent writer. I also vaguely remember that it may have had something to do with proofreading text and writing the manual. All I remember for certain is putting on a suit and having to walk a long way across campus and being “that sweaty guy” at the interview.

I didn’t get the job–oddly, someone I graduated high school with did–but it was an experience that taught me a lot–mostly, park closer to the interview site.

The next job interview I remember was my Peace Corps interview. I suited up, parked closer (although this was probably in autumn so it was cooler) and waited patiently. The interviewer turned out to be one of the best friends of one of my best friends. We mostly chatted about our mutual friend and I was moved on to the battery of tests and retests that followed (more on that some day; until then a two word hint: weird ears).

There were small interviews for part time work after that but my next big interview was to join the JET Programme and go to Japan. (This was thanks to the suggestion of writer Bryn Greenwood, whose novels Last Will and Lie Lay Lain I recommend you all check out as she is an excellent writer and neither this blog nor my children would exist if she hadn’t recommended Niigata.) The JET interview was memorable for being my first group interview (A Japanese official; a professor and a former JET) and for me suddenly blanking and being unable to think of a subject verb disagreement. (I is stupid that way sometimes.) I also had to pretend to be a cowboy. (No kisses were involved, though.)

After all those interviews I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out if I did well in the interview or if I did poorly. However, until I applied to my current company, I’d never had an interview that left me going “What the hell just happened?”

Things didn’t go well before the interview. It was my first internet application and, oddly enough, no one would actually tell me how to spell the name of the recruiter doing the interview. I’d sent letters to him with his name misspelled and all he would do was try to pronounce it as if that would help me magically understand how to spell it. (For the record: I only learned after I had the job and only because it was on a form.)

The interview was on a Sunday which meant we had to enter the building through the basement. We then went through the usual questions about strengths and weaknesses and ideal jobs and “Are you now or have you ever been a member of a union?” (None, plenty, all pay for no work; probably not.)

It went on long enough that it turned into a chat, which set off my warning system as I don’t always do well in chats. However, he then said something to the effect of “I don’t know how serious things are with this woman where you are now but there are a lot of women in Tokyo.”

I think I kept my mouth closed but I’m not sure. I then wondered if dumping She Who Must Be Obeyed was a prerequisite for the job.

In the end it didn’t matter. I got the job and they’ve treated me pretty well for the most part and I didn’t have to dump She Who Must Be Obeyed.