Cops and Monkeys

Yesterday I had a job interview. I was rather nervous. It was my second interview for a position as Office Coordinator at a company called Act1 Personnel Services. I know I haven't exactly posted on here that I've been out of work, but I have been. And I'm trying to not be. Therefore, I'm interviewing. I'm done with temp work. I need consistency. I've been saying that since June. So, why not work for a staffing company? Good logic, right? Right.

All prepped and pumped, and a nervous wreck, I got in my car and over-analyzed myself to death on the fifteen minute drive to the interview. I was going over the order of the questions I wanted to ask. "Which should I ask first? Probably not health benefits right off the bat, I'll go with company structure. Yes, that's ideal. And then benefits . . . ." My thoughts were racing and I wasn't paying great attention to my driving. I looked up too late to see the light turn red. If I stopped it would be very uncomfortable. I was also not paying enough attention to see the cop sitting at the intersection. "Just my luck."

My rapid-fire thoughts shut off as I slowed down and got over before he even had his lights turned on. Dumb conscience. Lights flew on behind me but it didn't matter, I already knew he was after me. I honestly think this is the second time I have run a red light in my life and now I was going to be late for an interview. My last thought before a gorgeous young cop stood at my window demanding my license and insurance: "Well, isn't this fantastic!"

"Ya kinda missed that light there."
"I know. "
"License and insurance please."
My license was in his hand before he even asked and I began fumbling to find insurance card. "You were really late too, there's a little delay. But really."
"I know. I'm usually very cautious. I'm on my way to an interview. I'm not even late. I'm just incredibly nervous." I explained and opened the glove box without looking away from him. I pulled out first aid kit and looked in that for my insurance card. I looked down. "This is a first aid kit. My insurance card won't be in here. Hang on." I retrieved my car manual in which I keep my insurance card.
"When was the last time you got a ticket?"
"Two years ago."
"And what was that for?"
"An accident."
"Ok. Sit tight. I'll be right back."
Minutes past. It felt like more than it was. Eventually the hot cop came back to my window baring my license and utter a strict warning.
"Take it easy or you will kill yourself or someone else. Good luck on your interview."
"I will. Thank you."

Getting pulled over on my way to an interview did nothing to calm my nerves. I had left so early though that I still made it there a half hour early. Filled out paperwork and into the interview I went and had another memorable experience. In case you were wondering about the monkey....

"I'm going to ask you some kind of off the wall questions" my interviewer stated as he proceeded. He followed in a line of questioning that was a little different than things I've been asked in interviews, but nothing I found alarming. It just showed the guy wanted to know if his candidates had a personality. Until he asked me "What kind of animal would you most liken yourself to?" I didn't really find his questions that out of the ordinary. That one threw me a bit.
"A monkey." I replied, without considering he would question as to the reason.
"Why?" he said without skipping a beat.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes."
"Okay, but I can't believe I'm even considering doing this in an interview." was my response. I wish there was a secret camera in the wall so you could have seen that man's face! And then I did something I would never recommend to anyone who isn't me. I displayed a stupid human trick in an interview! I showed my prospective employer my monkey face.
"To put that in perspective, and truthfully, it is sort of a job skill. It used to make the kids I watched stop crying..." I added after he stopped laughing.

Thankfully the monkey face demonstration was most of the way through the interview and I think he'd made his decision by that point anyway. I'm pretty sure it didn't lose me the job as I'm going in for a third interview on Monday.