Monday, November 14, 2005 - I'm a gibbering idiot

Well today I went for the dreaded and unlucky job interview number 13 ( Please see yesterday's blog entry). Having been late for 1 interview out of the 12 I have had I now make it a point to leave extra early due to LA traffic. Traffic was very light and I followed my Mapquest directions to the interview in Burbank arriving nearly an hour early at just past noon for a 1PM interview. I toyed with the idea of calling the interviewer to ask if he could see me early however I thought the better of this idea since he would probably be at lunch between 12 - 1. So I thought it would be a good idea to look for a place to have coffee, unwind after the drive and read the research materials I had on the company. After stopping at a Jack in the Box  about a mile away, grabbing a coffee I decided to head back at 12:30 to make it back on time. The area of Burbank I was in was very industrial, lots of freeways, train crossings and busy intersections which made it impossible to go back the way I came, so I decided to go around in a loop to get back to the interview location, which proved to be a big mistake.

After going around what I thought was a large square block I realized I was lost. I made a few more turns looking for the 3 major cross streets on my Mapquest directions but could not get back on any of the streets, next I decided to ask for directions, since I could not see any gas stations I pulled alongside people in cars, the answers ranged from I don't know, I don't speak English, to people pointing me in all different directions. By the 12th to 15th person I was totally lost and still non the wiser.

It was now 12:55 which meant I would be late so I called the company to inform them, in speaking with the receptionist she informed me she was not familiar  with the 2 contact names who I was to meet with, which had been e-mailed from the recruiter and could not find them on the companies alphabetic name list.  I verified it was the correct company and asked for directions, the receptionist was unfamiliar with the area and could not help me with directions either.

 Finally after stopping approx. 15 people who did not  seem to know any of the streets in Burbank and talking to the clueless receptionist, I managed to run into a street I was looking for just by dumb luck.  I found my way back arriving  at 1:30, a half hour late for the interview feeling like a complete idiot!! 

 I did my best to regain my composure although I was very hot after driving around 90 degree Burbank with my windows down asking for directions for 45 minutes. The interview seemed to go okay however it was very rushed since the person had a 2PM meeting.

 I told you 13 was unlucky.........................