Hasta Luego

The economy is eating college graduates for breakfast. It' ridiculous. I have just recently found a great job, and I am UBER excited about it! BUT it was a looooong row to hoe, people! I went to more interviews than Donald Trump last year. Interviews don't scare ME though, I can totally rock one out. Nothing feels greater than walking out of an interview knowing that you kicked ass in there. By the same token, it feels pretty terrible when you find out you didn't get the job. I made it through 3 rounds at Whole Foods last Winter, and I was on top of the world!!! I got myself so pumped up about working for an Austin based company whose named appeared in Forbes Magazine as a straight baller. Working there would be incredible. Being the over-sharer that I am, I told some friends about my possible opportunity, and got some pretty good feedback. Someone even told me that Whole Foods had employee-hippie-retreats every Summer in Colorado.... need I say more? So you would understand why I was so upset to learn that I came in 2nd, for a KICK-ASS job!

Early last Summer I saw an ad in the paper for a Personal Banker. I was a teller at Wells Fargo when I was 18, and I'm pretty good with money..... okay I am terrible with money, but I do like it. So what the heck, right? I went in, SCHOOLED about 20 people in a math test, and went on to the interview. The lady who interviewed me was one of 3 interviewers, and I couldn't have gotten a better one! She looked straight outta Odessa, Texas. (That's more make-up, hairspray & rhinestones than Lubbock women, for those of you who aren't familiar.) Turns out, she enjoyed spending her free time painting and decorating for her friends. She ate me up! In a good way. She hired me as a Personal Banker, and told me to add a blazer & panty-hose to my work-attire on my way out. Shit!

I had to do training for like 2 months at the downtown branch on Congress. It was a series of computer training classes, it sucked. I managed to skip a little bit of the classes, and work my charm on a nerdy instructor. (who happened to ALSO rip cigs on the roof during break time so we hit it off well.) One time I even left and toured the Capitol like the tourist that I am. It came time to go to the branch, and have a DESK! Finally! I got stationed at Highland Mall, which happens to be the "Ghetto-Stabbing-Mall", as I was told from an Austonian. Perfect! I get there, get my desk, and my first desk-top name-plate. It was glorious. I soon learned that there was nothing to do, because the mall was dying and only had half of the stores occupied. There was a smoothie place that I pretty much supported, and a REALLY AWESOME under-ground sneaker shop. My job was to go out and "get customers" as much as I could, so I spent most... all of my time out "getting customers". We could even leave the mall as long as we got signatures from 3 people at the business. By the grace of God, the near by Chili's Bartender served 2 years for forgery.

Sometimes though, I did feel like doing some work. I enjoyed leading the team meetings, being in charge of all decorating and organization. I also took charge of all print work and signage. That kind of stuff floats my boat, and so does working with people. The thing was...... this was IBC bank. THE BANK OF MEXICO. One of the main reasons I got the job was because I told them that I could speak fluent Spanish. I cannot speak fluent Spanish. The training was all good, but when it came time for me to talk to a customer I was screwed. Answering the phone was like a scary game of roulette for me. IBC bank wasn't cool with that. They also wanted me to work weekends right in the prime of my first Summer in Austin. No way Jose! You better believe I peaced out of that place with my desk-top name-plate in hand and a smile on my face!!!! Hasta Luego!!!