Don't Cry Out Loud - PLEASE KEEP IT INSIDE YOU

I must listen to my instincts more often. Your work history was sketchy. You haven't held a job for more than 9 months in the last 4 years. But, you kept working for good companies. They must have seen something in you and I know some of them had gone through legitimate layoffs. So I charged ahead and scheduled an interview with you.


The black eye threw me off a bit. You got in a "tussle" - your word, not mine - at the bar. So, that was stale alcohol I smelled on you. Normally, I would have ended the interview right there, but I had some free time and I knew there was a story lurking in there somewhere. You and your ex-wife are fighting over custody of your 15 y.o. daughter. Gosh, that's rough. Oh, and it was her brother's fist that landed in your left eye socket. The daughter's pregnant and that's why tempers are high.


"The 15 y.o." I asked for clarification.

"Just turned 15 last week," you responded.


Your ex is upset because you let your daughter's boyfriend spend the night with her every weekend. I don't see why she'd have a problem with that. And that's when the crying started. Your troubles as I see them: no job, custody battle, daughter and baby to move in with you, and a propensity to come to interviews smelling like a bar towel and start crying. You've been in my chair for 20 minutes now and we haven't even talked about your work experience yet.


Yet you seemed surprised when I stood up and told you that I didn't think now would be a good time for us to start a work relationship. Obviously, you have a lot on your plate and I really don't feel comfortable letting you operate large machinery while your on my payroll.


It's not me - it's you,

Mave