Monday, November 10, 2008

The Best (Interview) Day of My Life: Part 1

I have a confession to make. I have been withholding information you guys. Before you start coming at me with pitchforks, let me explain. After I didn't get the last job (or should I say jobs) that I interviewed for back in September, I was convinced I had jinxed myself. So any other leads or opportunities that have fallen in my path I have tried to be vague about. I didn't want to jinx myself again. 

Well, it seems the curse has lifted my friends because for the last two weeks I have felt like I'm in a cheesy rom com where everything seems to fall into place and the main character now has to make a really difficult decision between two really great opportunities. Apparently, I'm playing the lead character. 

Right after I got that sketchy e-mail from my last interview telling me that they were going to keep interviewing for the position, I received an e-mail from a company in Chicago asking if I was still interested in a Project Coordinator position they had open. The HR rep had thought that since I was from New York that I must have applied the wrong position on their website. I immediately called back and explained my situation. From there, I had four phone interviews each with a different person in the company. 

After the fourth call, they offered to fly me out to Chicago for an in-person interview. I couldn't believe my ears. None of the other interviews that I had gone to had offered to pay for my flight and I was convinced that this was the real deal. They seemed really interested in me! 

So I told The Boss that I was taking a personal day to go home to see my dad and on Halloween, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a 6 a.m. flight out of Newark to Chicago. Bleary eyed and with major butterflies in my stomach, I boarded the plane and walked to my seat. When I got to 29F, it seemed that someone else was in my spot, so I sleepily sputtered, "Excuse me, are you 29F because I think you're in my seat?"

The seat stealer had a hat on, so I didn't realize until he looked up at me that the guy I spent obsessing over for hours and hours on end as a thirteen (and even at sixteen) year old tween was on my plane. I had just told Taylor Hanson that he was in my seat. And asleep behind him was Isaac Hanson (oh how I pined over him). 

"Oh, no, I'm 30F. I think that is your seat," Taylor Hanson said and pointed at the seat in front of him. So with no grace whatsoever, I flung myself into my seat and texted my sister (who is also a true Hanson fan), WG1, and our Fabulous Project Manager that Hanson was on my plane.

I have spotted celebrities before. In fact, my sister would say that I attract them. But I live in New York so while you may be surprised to see Keanu Reeves sitting behind you at a movie theater in Union Square, it's not exactly impossible. I've also recently spotted Penn Badgley on the street and ran into Starr Jones at Victoria's Secret. 

But Hanson on my plane sent me into a tizzy (just an fyi, Zac was no where to be found). I told WG1 on the phone later that I could have died happy and I wasn't lying. Those boys were my childhood in a nutshell. My obsession was ridiculous. I only ate red candy for a while because Taylor Hanson's favorite color was red. Wow, big confession there. 

I took this plane ride as a sign. Chicago was where I was meant to be and this interview was going to go flawlessly. 

The interview did go well. I spent two hours chatting with the Director of Sales, the current Project Coordinator, and then got a tour of the company's two floors. Since it was Halloween everyone was dressed in costume (my favorite was a full-on cracked out Amy Winehouse) and they had had a pumpkin carving contest the day before so all the pumpkins were on display in the front hall. My favorite was the pumpkin carved like a hamburger complete with real lettuce, tomatoes and mustard. 


All of the employees went out of their way to be nice to me and I had a great time. Not to mention the job description (event planning! travel!) didn't sound too shabby. I left the interview feeling confident but cautious because we all know my history with the jinx curse. My dad and I met up for lunch at Blackie's where I ate a scrumptious burger and fries. 

Then I jumped in a cab back to O'Hare airport and boarded my plane back to New York. Since it was Halloween (and I had already bought myself a costume), I jetted on over to WG1's apartment where I got drunk on champagne and had a great night out with my friends from college. As usual we ended up at some dive bar on the UES and I spent most of night dancing to Jordin Sparks and Lady Gaga

Monday morning I was still on my "I met Hanson" high and couldn't be brought down. I had met the loves of my life and had a stellar interview. And then I received a voicemail. 

Not as scary as it may seem. I mentioned a while back that I had applied to graduate school and had gotten placed on the wait list. The voicemail was from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern asking me to call them back. My first thought was that they must be desperate to get some bodies to commit to their upcoming Open House. 

So I called him back really out of sheer curiosity and was greeted with, "Congratulations! You've been accepted for winter admission!" 

I had just been greeted with the news of my dreams, but after the best interview ever I didn't know anymore if I wanted that dream to be a reality.

TO BE CONTINUED...

31 comments:

Pam said...

You only ate red candy for awhile? That just made me laugh out loud for like 5 minutes... I adore giddy celeb sighting stories. But wait...why were they in coach?

So...what happened?! I am dying to know here!! This cliffhanger is killing me! :)

keepmovingforward said...

Congrats btw! Isn't it weird that when something is going great, something else really great happens too. However it usually conflicts with the first happy moment. It's like the universe testing to see which opportunity you would rather take...ugh decisions...

missBee said...

OMG! Obsession doesn't even come close to my feelings towards *shudder* Hanson. I cried myself to sleep for a year over Zac. So jealous you met them!!!

Good luck on the decision front!

E-Money said...

OMG YOU MET THE HANSON BROS? I'm so insanely jealous. They were also my entire childhood. I had books about them, their posters covered my walls, and while singing along to their CD in my room I fantasized that they would knock on my door to join them on tour. And then Zack would fall in love with me and I'd be the Hanson sister.

Unfortch, none of that happened. I grew up, moved to SF and started writing a silly blog!

But very exciting job prospects none the less!

Living Dees Life said...

wow! that's amazing!!! my little sis use to headoverheals inlove with hansen as well.

i want to know where this place is in chicago!!! they seem awesome. maybe they'd have something in my line of work.... we can't dressup for holidays at my place. *sniffle*

(keeping you in my thoughts you make the best decisions for you !!! )

tatum said...

oh wow!! congrats! two amazing opportunities ... what will you choose???

Jaime Randle said...

OOOOHHH MY LANTA, I literally dropped my jaw when I read the part about the grad school calling you... I mean, I was obsessed with Hanson, too (not that I kissed my posters every night before bed or anything...) but that is just HUGE. Life ALWAYS likes to play rude little games with our heads and emotions, like "na-na-na-na-boo-boo, nowwwww what are you gonna do?!" That is such a difficult decision, but NORTHWESTERN! GO. Congratulations :)

Daisy said...

That is hilarious you were so crazy for Hanson, so glad you finally got to live out your dream!! And fantastic about both opportunities, I can't wait to hear what you've decided- it so often seems to happen that way, and I often look back on the decisions I made and wonder what on earth would have happened if I'd gone the other way. Good luck.

Abby said...

This is how it always happens, isn't it? All good things tend to happen at the same time! I'm sure you'll make the right decision though. Good Luck :)

The Invisible Student said...

Congrats WG2! I'm the same way about jinxes. I had an interview with Ralph Lauren once (the company, not the man) and after the 3rd interview I felt confident enough to mention it to my family since they knew it was my dream job. Needless to say, I didn't get the job and now I never mention job opps until I get my first paycheck.
congrats again!

Kristi said...

OMG. Hanson! How awesome! My sister and I used to freak over them!

What an amazing week! Can't wait to find out how it ends!!

Samantha said...

oh shit... that is CRAZY!

Good luck on the decision making I know how hard it is to make this kind of decision, just know whatever you choose isn't the end of the world follow your heart (never your head) and you'll be okay. There's always another way so you don't have to be stuck no matter what you choose!

Anonymous said...

hi awesomeness :) :) That is so bad ass on ALL accounts :)

finish the story soon!!! :)

Mili said...

cogratz.....gud things tk longer to happen n but they do happen...all the best for ur life..

Crimsonlaugh said...

Don't you hate/love when life does this to you?!

Way to go :)

Unknown said...

congrats! those are both amazing opportunities, and i can't wait to see what you decided to do :)

MO said...

AH...I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what will happen next? I guess if the company offers you the job and it's a good pay raise, then I say go for it, as you can always go back to school. In this day and age, JOBS are hard to get...so take 'em while the gettin' is good!!!! Good Luck!!!
ps, SCORE on the luck of meeting the "Handsome" bros...:)

MARY IN SCOTLAND said...

WOW!!! Northwestern, you smarty pants!! and Hanson!!! and a flawless interview!!!!!
CONGRATS!
Finally things are paying off for you!!

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Oh wow. That's quite the predicament you're in! Sometimes life throws two things at you to force you to choose. But it sounds like either way you go, it will be a good decision. Good luck!

Amy Starkey said...

i just have to say, i'm all about furthering your education, but taking a job and hopefully having the company help pay for furthering that education is the way to go...i thought about going back for grad school when i was in a rut at work, but now realize that i'd be better off having my company pay for most of it even though it will take me longer...less debt and a job where you want to be sounds like a great idea! good luck with whatever you choose!!!

Minnesota Girl said...

First off---hanson?!? Awesome! MMMM bop! Secondly, congrats on the stellar interviews. I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything works out and that you get to work in the Windy City!

Raychelle said...

oh wow! This is so exciting! Can't wait to hear how it turns out :)

Brookie Brooke said...

I can't wait to hear more but the only real thing I am taking from this post is the Hanson part, I am not a fan. At all, but my old roommate has a slight (read:major) obsession with them. She will have to live vicariously through you. And I'm sure just as you did, she will love every minute of it!

Maxie said...

wow that is amazing! I'd freak out just meeting Hanson...but the rest sounds like it was awesome too :-)

Bobbi said...

I'm wondering why the Hanson boys are in coach too. I never listened to them, but if you had met any one of the New Kids on the Block I would had a shit fit!

Good luck with the Chicago opportunities!

Izzy said...

That's soo awesome, CONGRATS!!!

Anonymous said...

Either way you'll be in Chicago...I went to journalism school at the Newhouse School at Syracuse. Medill is awesome so I understand your excitement. (but Yah Cuse :-)) I understand the love and desire for journalism school especially one of the top ones in the country...but unless you are 200 percent sure you want to be a journalist I say take the job. It's really tough for journalists right now, both print and broadcast. (just my two cents). But congrats on both

Lauren said...

My roommate would actually die, simply DIE if she was seated by Hanson. You lucky girl!

Congrats on the interview going well! And on being accepted into the school! I'm excited to hear what you decide to do. It seems like good news comes in bulk. I'm sure you'll make the right decision. :)

knitfreak-to-be said...

did you took pictures? how could you not!! they are so cool!!

and all the best on whats more to come ;)

ash said...

i totally UNDERSTAND your hanson past. i two had the same red obsession all because of "tay." I spent all of my time and money on hanson stuff...it was a blast from the past to read about your flight with them!!!!
I am soooo JEAL!
did you talk to them anymore???
xoxo
ash

Caitlin said...

What a great story!