Early Morning Interview

I was in a coffee shop about a week ago, looking through the job listings in the New York Times. I must have looked very sad, because you came over to me and asked what was wrong. I mentioned that I was not having much luck finding a job and you offered to assist me. I gave you my information but really did not expect anything to come of it. Much to my surprise, I got a phone call two days later from a Ms. Sinclair from the Law Firm of Eldridge, Benson & Johnson. I was to be interviewed for a secretarial position.


Here we are, the morning of the interview. I didn’t think I would be this nervous. They say first impressions are very important. I don’t know what to wear. Should I wear pants? No, I can wear a black mini skirt to show off my legs & my ass (just in case my interviewer is male). Thigh highs and knee high black leather boots, a red silk tank top with a little black jacket; that should do it. And I will leave my hair out. I want to get there early to show I can be punctual.

Now that I am here, I feel even more nervous. Even though it is mid-September, I am glad I wore this long black trench coat; they keep this office pretty cool. I gave my name to the receptionist, Ms. Sinclair, and she informs me that the person ahead of me is running late and I will be seen immediately. I broke into a cold sweat. I thought I would have more time.

I barely hear the instructions Ms. Sinclair is giving me to get to the interview room. I pull myself together, open my coat and walk into the last door at the end of a very long hall with my head held high. I pause at the door. I thought there would only be one interviewer. There are three and they are all male. Why would there need to be three interviewers for such a simple position? All I am doing is taking notes in meetings and typing them out for the next day.

‘Good morning. My name is Janira Spence. I am here for the secretarial position.’ They stood as I walked into the office. One gentleman is behind a very large mahogany desk. The other two gentlemen are at chairs facing the desk. There was one empty chair between them. Mr. Kareem Benson, one of the partners of the firm, introduced himself and motioned me to the empty chair next to him. As I passed him, he took my brief case and my coat.

I could feel their reactions. It made my coochie twitch. The second gentleman introduced himself as Hasaan Johnson, also a partner. As I sit, I realize that the man behind the desk is you. I hadn’t gotten your name that day in coffee shop. You lean forward to shake my hand as you tell me your name is Nick Eldridge, senior partner. A firm with three black senior partners is BEAUTIFUL.

You start by asking how well I do short hand and how many words I type per minute. These things are on my resume but I guess you want to see if someone else typed it for me. You must have been pleased with my response because a smile ran across your face. You looked at Kareem & Hasaan and asked if they were ready to begin. They nodded in the affirmative. I asked for my brief case so I could get my pen and pad. I was told I would not need those as you would provide me with all I would need.

There is a filing cabinet to the right and I am told my supplies are in the bottom drawer.