The Big "R" That stands for Rejection

                                                              It's raining today

The Forest of Rain

I started thinking about disappointment, and rejection. There are things that you have to be prepared for. And when they happen, it is literally how you choose to look at it that makes the difference.

My left Hand

On a whim last week, I decided to apply for a job at this clothing store, as a stylist. I figured that it would be a nice change to my daily habits, a good way to meet people, and a good way to be around my favorite environment, clothing. I was like, yeah, I've got this, I've got style, I have experience (I was store manager at a vintage clothing store for two years) I have a good attitude, I'm literally in love with the clothing brand itself, and I'm intelligent. Cool. Right? No.

The Closet of Destiny

I walk in there, and immediately I'm stricken with a whoosh of overwhelming snootiness. But I shook it off because, I thought maybe it was my own perception that might have been veiling reality. I felt like I was being watched, as I approached the back counter to inquire about the manager that I was to interview with. While walking, there was a girl who drifted pass me slowly and echoed a sallow "Hi". Behind the register counter there was a girl picking up boxes, she had to be the manager, I approached her, and she asked if I was here for the interviews. I felt slightly better.

 She asked me to pick out an outfit that would best represent the brands style. When she said this, I was totally excited because this was my element. I perused the store, and picked out a strapless blue printed romper, with a rose gold & silver arm band, a gold choker necklace, a pair of gold trimmed aviator sunglasses, and some strappy wedged boots. The reason I picked out the boots was only because they were lacking in a substantial selection of footwear. I was at a loss on that, but there was no way that I was going to pair that cute outfit with a pair of Birkenstocks. I explained my outfit to her, then she asked me to step outside.

Now here is where it gets slightly silly. She began to ask me questions whose answers had to be fashioned out of the regurgitated nature, so I decided to answer them in my own way, to offer a fresh approach, a new perspective, which is what I would think that a company would look for. It was hot that day, I was melting, and while I was answering the questions, I actually caught my interviewer, looking off into the distance. She also asked me what hours I was looking for, I said 20, she was like, "Yeah, it's actually going to be more like 8 to 12". That really didn't bother me until she said that it was a temporary position, because many of the other girls were off for vacation. That little tid-bit was not on the description of the job.

 I was ushered back inside, and she told me that the store manager and the visual manager wanted to also ask me questions. I walked back into the tapestry curtained, slightly closed, dressing room with two large cushioned benches situated across from one another. Large mirrors behind them on opposing walls. Both of the managers were there sitting next to each other, and one of them had been the girl who gave me the dead look and the long slow " Hi". They stared at me with faces as stone cold as a painting from the Baroque and Rococo period. I do believe in professionalism, but, I just don't think that these people seemed very nice, or happy, or bright, or alive. They were giving off the exact opposite of what the brand that they represented is.

I sat through their questions answering each one with what I thought were really good answers, and then they asked me about Loss Prevention (theft) but, it was in a way that I didn't particularly like. After that, the little dressing room was silent, and it was I who ended the interview with a " well, this was nice."after soaking in their blank and vacant stares .

This is what their expressions looked like

The funny thing is that I left that interview feeling fearless, I didn't sweat, I wasn't intimidated by their looks or their disposition. Because how they were acting, said more about them, than me. They were rejecting me to my face, and I still was unshaken. To be fair to myself, honestly I wouldn't have wanted to put myself in an environment where I would have to look at icy cold faces all day. So in that respect rejection can be a good thing, depending on how you choose to look at it. I give myself a pass.

Pass