The Mistreated Wife

Chapter 1: Hitting the Pavement

Today has been an unusually hot day. It has been almost a week since I started hitting the pavement looking for a job. A few weeks back, I started sending out resumes online and I just waiting for a response. There were some who did respond, but after learning that I’ve never had any jobs before, I get the standard ‘We’ll be in touch’ reply. 

What infuriates me is that it’s clearly stated in my resume that I’ve never worked before, so why schedule an interview with me when they are looking for someone with prior work experience? Also, how would I ever gain work experience if no one even wants to hire me?

We’re running out of food at home, and I did not want to bother my parents for any more handouts. You can say I'm getting desperate, so I decided to go out there and submit my resume in person. I’ve even submitted applications to malls and restaurants, but after finding out that I’m a c*m laude college graduate, they would say I’m overqualified to work as a sales lady or a waitress. I even said I didn’t mind, but I still got rejected.

Honestly, I’m running out of options. I was at the mall when I saw a job fair. There was a telecommunications company looking to hire secretaries so I submitted an application. Luckily, I passed the initial screening, and I was given an endorsement for an interview with the Operations Director of the company.

This is why I was walking along the streets, looking for the company building. I was wearing a long-sleeved button-down shirt and a pencil skirt, with three-inch high shoes. Walking in these high heels on a hot day is very challenging. I had my hair up in a neat bun, and I opted to put on minimal makeup. I've been told that I was naturally beautiful, so I didn’t need to put a lot on my face to stand out.

When I found the building, I was sweating already as I headed to the reception desk and told them my destination.

I went to the restroom to fix myself before heading up to the 25th floor, where the interviewer’s office is. While at the elevators, I was psyching myself up and even practicing my response to ‘Tell me something about yourself.’ I didn’t notice the man who was in the elevator with me. He was standing at the front side near the buttons. I was diagonally across his at the back side of the lift. He kept glancing at my direction, seemingly irritated with hearing my monologue. I smiled when he caught my eyes. He just looked at me, with an uninterested look on his face. I tried to lowered my volume but kept practicing.

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw his face. Despite his stoicism, he’s very handsome. His features are very sharp, and he has a very high pointed nose. He looks like a model straight out of GQ magazine. He’s tall, maybe at least six feet. I’m currently at five foot eight due to my three-inch heels.

I was surprised when he got off at the 25th floor as well. He went straight inside, while I went to see the receptionist on the floor. I told her I was scheduled for an interview. She had me log my information on a book, took my resume, and had me wait in a room with the other interviewees.

When I got inside the room, I was shocked to see at least 30 other applicants for the job waiting to be interviewed. I was confident before going in, but apparently, the competition is very stiff. I started getting worried since they might be looking for experienced secretaries, and I definitely was not. I was in the Student Council in school, so at least I had an idea of what a secretary does.

I got more worried knowing the probability. Even if I do well in the interview, the chances of getting hired out of these many applicants are extremely low. I decided to just focus on what the possible interview questions might be. I also thought about our empty fridge and the thought of not having food on the table.

Aside from the ‘something about yourself’ question, I also practiced my responses to some other standard interview questions:

‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

‘Who do you look up to and why?’

‘Tell us about a challenging situation you faced and how you handled it.’

‘How do you see yourself in five years?’

I also prepared an answer in case they asked why I have not worked before despite having excellent academic records in school. I wanted to be fully prepared since this is my first job interview.

I have always been insecure about not being able to work after graduating from school. I have always had high dreams, and somehow they all got shoved back in the corner when I got married. My best friend Rianne, who kept failing in some of her classes in college, and took five years to finish a four-year course just took the bar exams last month. While waiting for the results, she is clerking at the Regional Trial Court in her city. I had another friend who took the CPA board exams three times before passing,. She is now working at one of the top auditing firms in the country.

On the other hand, there’s me, who graduated as class valedictorian in high school and c*m laude in college, now competing to get an entry-level job as a secretary. I’m not regretting my decision to get married right out of college. Paul and I love each other very much and he takes good care of me. However, I regretted not getting a job and just staying at home to be a doting housewife to my husband.

I was woken up from my reverie when a lady came in and started briefing us. We will be called in, in batches of five who will be interviewed together by a panel. She called in the first batch of five and asked them to come with her.

None of those who were previously called in came back to the room, and we were all wondering what happened to them. I was part of the last batch of interviewees that was called. We stood up and was led to la very lavish and huge conference room. As we came in, we were told to take a seat across two men and one woman at the long table. The table along could seat as many as 20 people. I looked at the members of the panel, and was surprised  but at the same time pleases as I saw the man in the elevator sitting in the middle. I smiled inadvertently.

As we took out seats, the lady on the left introduced herself as Amanda, the Recruitment Manager. She started asking a series of questions for each applicant, before moving on to the next. She was the only one speaking. The man on the right just took down notes, while the man in the middle just kept looking at us.

Well, he was looking mostly at me. Maybe he was amused by the fact that he caught me practicing for the interview that he was actually conducting, well, observing. I looked away but noticed that he kept looking at me. When I looked back at him, we caught each other’s eye. As I looked back down, I heard Amanda calling my name. It was my turn.

The man in the middle whispered to her and pointed at something in the paper, which Amanda read.

Amanda: “Ms. Santillan, tell us something about yourself.”

I was celebrating internally as I gave her the same response I have been practicing for the past few hours.

Belle: “My name is Isabelle Santillan, but you can call me Belle. I’m 25 years old. I have a BA in Legal Management. I am a bookworm and I love reading legal thrillers. John Grisham is my favorite author. I love to cook and I can speak German and Spanish fluently.”

I composed my response based on an article that I read that you should always have a concise response and not give in too much information. Interviewers usually ask follow-up questions based on your initial response. It’s good to be ready to answer the follow-up questions as well. I didn’t include my being married and the lack of work experience in my introduction because that will open a big can of worms I might not be able to get out of.

I was expecting more questions to follow as the man in the middle leaned in to whisper to Amanda again. I was shocked when we were told that the interview is over and that we should go see the same girl who led us into the room earlier. The other interviewees also seemed shocked that I was only asked one question, and it was not even related to the job or my qualifications. The others were asked at least three questions each, relating to their qualifications and previous work. They were all asked to rate level of expertise in using some of the applications that will be used on the job.

I was suddenly disheartened. They probably already thought I wasn’t qualified for the job as soon as they saw my resume. They called me in just to be polite.

We were led to another room, where we were asked to wait for further instructions. When the girl came back in, she called my name and asked me to come with her. I was already prepared to hear that they will just call me to let me know the results, or that they will keep my resume on their active file, in case something comes up that meets my qualifications. I was already prepared to thank them for their time and leave gracefully.

I was led inside an office, which apparently was Amanda’s. She asked me to take a seat across her desk. I wasn’t expecting what I would hear her say next.

Amanda: “Hi Belle. We would like to offer you the Executive Secretary position. You will be reporting under the Operations Director, Mr. Sebastian Maurer. Here are your offer letter and contract. You can go back to the same room you were waiting in earlier to go through them. Do you have any questions?”

I have so many questions, but I didn’t think it would be appropriate to ask them since I’m already being offered the job. At the moment I am dumbfounded with how my response to the interview question was enough for me to be offered the job.

Belle: “Thank you, Amanda. I just want to ask, are you sure you want to hire me?”

Amanda chuckled a bit before responding.

Amanda: “What do you mean?”

Belle: “Well, I feel like I wasn’t able to impress you enough to merit a job offer. You only asked me one question and it wasn’t even job-related.”

Amanda: “Well, Belle. Sometimes we hire based on factors other than the interview.”

Belle: “Okay. Fair enough.”

Amanda: “Mr. Maurer picked you himself, so don’t worry. Is there anything else?”

Belle: “No, that was it. Again, thank you for the opportunity.”

Amanda: “You’re welcome. I’ll see you later.”

As I left the room, what she said lingered in my head. I was picked by Mr. Sebastian Maurer, the Operations Director, and my future boss himself. Who is Mr. Maurer? Was he in the room during the panel interview? Which one is he? My best guess is that he’s the man in the middle.

His last name is Maurer. It sounds like a foreign last name, which explains his exquisite and handsome features. I wonder why he picked me. Maybe he saw my potential based on my academic background. Either way, I didn’t care. I now have a job. I can’t wait to get home and tell Paul.

As I read the job offer and contract, I was surprised to see that the rate I’m being offered is quite high for a secretarial position. Maybe the job will require me to do things other than secretarial work. I’m thinking I might be asked to do some personal errands for the boss. I don’t really mind that since I’m used to doing stuff for other people anyway. Five years of being married to Paul has also trained me well.

As I signed the contract, I took note of the requirements I had to submit. Luckily, I already had most of them. I just needed to fill-up some forms next and I should be good to go. My start date will be on Monday the following week.

I gave the papers back to the same lady who assisted us throughout the interview. After checking everything and confirming that they all seem to be in order, she welcomed me to the company.

As I left the building, I was in high spirits. I bought a roasted chicken to take home to Paul. He might be hungry by now and I won’t have time to cook anymore when I get home. Besides, we don’t have any stocks or groceries that I can cook at home.

As I got on the bus headed home, I couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect of finally working in an office. I just got hired for my first job.

Good work, Belle.