Anonymous
At opportunity didn't a secretary acquired excellent computer worked word processing skills and became an outstanding organizer. When her cousin made vice president, Cheryl became his executive assistant. That was two years ago, and ever since she'd kept the office running like a Formula 1 racing machine. Cousin Vince had a great mind for theory, she knew, but he couldn't get a single thing done on time without her. She had everything worked out on her calendar, one of those large month-at-a-glance planners that covered almost the entire top of her desk.
Now the time had come to move on. With the nepotism thing, she knew her chances of further advancement were limited. In any case, she needed new challenges. Within a week, she saw a newspaper ad for an executive secretary in a large advertising agency;
STRONG secretarial and organizational skills; work with senior executives and management committee; maintain schedules, travel arrangements, etc.; oversee office operations.
Perfect, she thought, that's for me, and called the number listed. An appointment was set, and she neatly wrote it down on her desk-top monthly planner, her office bible.
A day or so later, Vince came storming out with a mess of papers in his hand. "Cheryl, where the hell is the back-end of this report and my notes on the Twilling Contract? I haven't got 'em, have you?" He plunked his bottom on her desk, began searching and knocked over her Coke, spilling it all over himself and her sacred planning calendar.
They both cursed. He whipped out a handkerchief to dry his suit. She fumbled for the paper towels in her drawer to blot up the puddles. But the damage was done. The calendar-planner was one big, soggy brown stain full of blurred inky lines. The entries on it were all but illegible. She cursed again.
Cheryl found the papers Vince wanted in his office, then set about cleaning up her desk and reconstructing the calendar. Damn him, she thought. But her anger faded as the day and then the week wore on. On the day of her interview at the ad agency, Cheryl arrived exactly five minutes early, as was her custom at every meeting. "Good morning," she said cheerfully to the smiling receptionist. "Cheryl Ritter to see Mr.Dupree, please. I have an appointment." The receptionist's smile turned quizzical and she gave Cheryl a strange look. "Well," she said, "I'll see if he's, uh, available and has time to see you. Will you have a seat, please?"
If he's available? thought Cheryl, has time to see me? What's that supposed to mean?
She sat down and browsed through the agency's annual report, and then a brochure presenting its prize-winning ad campaigns. She liked them both. Fifteen minutes passed. She frowned and walked around the reception room, looking at the framed ads. Five more minutes. She went back to the report. Another ten minutes went by. After 45 minutes, Cheryl was about to complain to the receptionist when the inside doors opened. A tall, white-haired man in a plaid suit came over to her.
"Uh, Miss Ritter, is it?" he asked. "How do you do. I'm Mr. Dupree." He didn't invite Cheryl in, but sat down with her in the reception area. Cheryl's brows puckered but she said nothing.
"You do understand, don't you, that the essence of this position is planning and organization?" asked Mr. Dupree.
"Certainly," replied Cheryl with dignity. "Those are my prime qualities. There's nothing I do as well in this world as plan things out carefully ahead of time."
"Interesting," replied Mr. Dupree, stroking his chin. "That's what makes it so odd that we haven't heard from you before now. You see, your interview was scheduled for last Monday."
Oh my God! The Coke, the calendar! I got it wrong!
She tried to explain, but he wasn't buying it, he just seemed amused. When the interview ended, just a few minutes later, Mr. Dupree told Cheryl that the company would be making its decision by the end of the week. On Saturday, Cheryl got the rejection letter - exactly on time.
Consider keeping copies of critical material in two separate places, just as you back up computer files.
Putting job interviews on your desk calendar at work is not the brightest idea either.
