Just another tail....

Have been hearing all these (know-it-alls) saying that if you really want a job, you must get out and go to the companies, in person. Don’t apply via computer and wait, cuz you’ll never get a job that way. OK...so, in the last few days, I have applied for several teaching positions in Palm Beach County, on-line, of course. So today, with the advice in-mind, I saddled up a big bag with all kinds of docs and so forth and went to the school board office...cuz I had applied at 9 different schools.

Finally find a park and walk in, which takes a good 20 minutes (What’s everybody there for?). See a security desk and go wait in line there. Tell Security, when it finally comes my turn, that I want to go to Human Relations. She tells me to sign in and points to a computer on the counter top. I go there...type in my first name, last name, scroll down to Human Relations and click. I hear printing. It is printing out a badge...so I’m trying to find a printer and suddenly it is there in front of me as I see a label (badge) emerging from this thing-a-ma-jig. Instructions say to tear off slowly (I read everything!HA!).

Okay, afix badge to shirt and begin looking for a way into the rest of the building....still have no idea where I am heading. Haven’t been there since 1994. I see a turn-still and go there, cuz there is no other way to go. Sign by the turn-still says key in number. I look on my badge and there is a visitor number...take a chance and sure enough, that is the right one. I go thru the turn-still. Now where? I see a “Directory” and go there. Don’t see “Human Relations” or Personnel mentioned. Finally, I notice that the directory is only for the “First Floor.” Ahhh Haaaa! So I turn around and there is an elevator behind me. I get on it, go to the 2nd floor. Get out and .... BUMMER! There’s NO directory for the 2nd floor. Guess folkes who find themselves there know exactly where they are going. I do an “ennie-meanie-miney-mo” and choose a door. But a person with a real badge emerges into the hall, so I quickly ask her. She says she will show me. We get back on the elevator and go downstairs. She says go left to the double doors and then put in the code on your badge. I point to the double doors way in the distance and ask for confirmation...she says Yes, that’s Wing A. Ok....that makes sense.

Seems that I recall HR was this way before...but she said everything had moved. Oh well....maybe not HR. The code machine is about 10 feet in front of these double doors. I’m not sure cuz it is beside a single door that reads “Mechanical Room.” I don’t want to go into the Mechanical Room. So I try the double doors. Nope, they are definitely locked. Go back and input code. Now doors open when I try them. Another dismal gray, well lit hallway. I find another elevator. Men’s restroom down another corridor, women’s restroom down another corridor. A couple of posters on the walls – reminder to clock in and out. Corridor winds around to double glass doors that go outside. I definitely don’t want to go outside. Might be locked out and have to start the process all over again. There are 2 other gray solid doors (all of them that way) with name plates, but not what I’m looking for. Across from the elevator is another “Directory.” Says Human Relations is room 132. I go back down the hall again, no room 132. Numbers stop at 119. Dang! Try the elevator. It makes noise, but doesn’t work. Try it again. Ut-Ohhhh....looks like you need a key to put in the slot thingie. Turn back to the directory. It says that Human Relations is on the First Floor. Dang again! Choose a gray door. It opens. Proceed down a corridor that comes to a crossroads. A bright room with cubicles. I hear a woman talking and go towards her voice. She doesn’t look so happy, Is very pregnant. I apologize for being in the wrong place and ask where Human Relations is? She sternly tells me to go back the way I came in, then turn left and go through the double glass doors. I gush thanks, but she looks as if I caught her sitting on the toilet instead of at her desk.

I follow directions. After exiting through the glass doors, I find that it is an open air atrium. Outside, but not outside. I come to other gray doors in the shade. One says Human Relations and the one next to it says Human Relations...do the enie-minie-mo thing again. Choose the second door. Another hallway. Go down the hallway, turn the corner and there is a counter. Am relieved cuz this looks like the place. Don’t apologize this go-round. But the women staffing the desk look like I have interrupted very important proceedings. I give my spiel. The first one point to the door I came in and says I need to call the individual schools where I replied. I admit it has been a few years, but try to invoke more conversation and discussion by asking about all the preliminary stuff they use to require, like finger prints, etc. She says all that is done at the end now. OK. I give the cheerleader smile of appreciativeness and gush my thanks. Leave. Start the trek toward my car.

Am thinking about stopping in at a couple of the schools on my way home, since they are on my way home. Decide to stop in at one, the closest one. I go to L.C. Swain Middle. Have never been there before. Has a beautiful campus. Would be a right-turn into campus off Lake Worth Road in the mornings. That’s nice. Convenient. Find a park. Not bad. Not that far to walk though lots of cars are in the parking lot. Noticed the school sign read “Orientation at 9:30.” Is 11ish...that should be over. Get out and my feet are killing me. Wow! Will definitely need new shoes if I get a job. Now my parking place seems so far and it’s so dreadfully hot. OK...make it to the front double doors. Toss my gum in the garbage. (Actually it sticks to the top of one of my fingernails and I don’t notice.) Go inside. Is very cool, looking and feeling. Very wide corridors. Lots of partitions. Media center to the left all glassed in. Administration to my right. Lots of different doors. Layers of security. Think I would feel secure here ...and safe. At least, as an office worker. Hummmm.... Place is crowded. Guess they didn’t get the memo. The Main Office is packed out with parents and students. None look real happy. I imagine getting in line. Don’t mind the wait, BUT by the time it would come my turn, I can see these people wouldn’t be so happy to see me. I look around a little more, then decide to leave. Will call them. Hopefully make an appointment to have an interview.

Heels are really hurting on the trek to the car. Have now burst the blisters. Just happen to glance at my hand and see the glob of gum I thought I had thrown in the trash stuck to my middle finger nail on my right hand. Wow! Good thing I never really got to meet with anyone. I would have shaken hands with them, making a really disgusting impression. Oh well....Everything DOES happen for a reason....