Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

As I previously mentioned last Tuesday often times interviews in Las Vegas are like auditions. Depending on your occupation, the more elite the company brand, the more people who come to audition.

About 200 other people attended the same audition I went on for the Gold company. After the first interview, I was invited back to a second interview with the Gold company. This is the one company I truly wanted to work for since arriving in Vegas, eleven months ago. So after receiving a call-back from the first interview, I was eager to attend the second interview which would consist of myself and only 20-25 other applicants before a management panel. I was informed via email by Gold’s Human Resources this would take about an hour.

But because I have to work, I accepted a completely less glamorous job at another company, let’s call that the Silver Lining company, and had been working there a week already before receiving the call-back from the Gold company. 

What I really liked about the Gold company was the hours, location, plus it’s glitzy and garish, and would pretty much be the sum of my social life, currently having none to speak of. But that’s how it is in my industry, work is your social life. How else is a single woman nearing 50 going to meet people, online? I can easily lose interest with people online. But meeting people at work you never feel cheated. You chat up people (in person) while getting paid. 

My second interview with the Gold company was last Friday. I have Fridays off at the Silver Lining company, so it worked out. But when I went into work on Thursday, I saw the Silver Lining company changed my schedule to match exactly what the Gold company was offering, without me even mentioning I had a second interview with another company. So I was now offered the same money and hours at the Silver Lining company, plus I had already been there a week. 

Total Marsha moment.

I ended up emailing Gold’s Human Resources and cancelling my interview. Friends in LA said I should have pushed for more money at the Gold company, but when there’s 200 people wanting the same job as the one you’re applying for, you have zero leverage.  

It’s a mind trick. A game. Rather than investing in 1:1 interviews, you see your competition in 200+ cattle calls, and are therefor made to feel extremely grateful, blessed even, when hired. Sure you’re grateful, but it is after all a job. It won't cure cancer or be the sum of your happiness.

So now I’m entering into week three at the Silver Lining company. It’s not glitzy or garish, but it’s reliable like cotton, and a huge corporation. I can move to Palm Springs and work there few years just prior to my eventual retirement. (And maybe finally learn how to golf.)

As for a social life, LA friends are going to have to keep visiting me in Vegas for a while. Maybe I can get a second job working at a golf course. Discount golf lessons? 

Bob Gordon says I can get a job anywhere. All I have to do is...