5.22.2008

unpacking and packing and other random thoughts

Well, I've pretty much managed to unpack from my 3 month spring ministry experience. The only thing is, now I'm packing again ... although this time it's just for the weekend! We're headed to our retreat house on the shore for the annual Eastern Province Spirituality weekend. It's a wonderful opportunity for our groovy sisters and associates in this geographic region to gather in a spirit of prayer and reflection (and fun). I'm really looking forward to it, even though I'd just started getting into the swing of things here at the house. We'll be back soon enough I suppose - a weekend isn't very long, not even the three day variety!

I had an action packed afternoon, complete with house meeting, cooking dinner, zipping upstairs for a phone interview for a potential ministry placement in the fall, then heading downstairs to eat dinner. As I descended the stairs I discovered that our Congregation Leader and another sister from the west were joining us for dinner! Good thing I made something yummy (taco salads)! And that there was more than enough to go around.

To end this random post, I will ask this question: if you were having a phone interview for what you might consider your "dream job," and you've never met the folks on the other end of the phone, what would you wear? Would you stay in your jeans, t-shirt and flip flops or put on a snazzy blazer and skirt combination just so you feel confident and in the groove?? I think my house mates may have thought I was crazy, but I went for the blazer and skirt option. The potential employers on the other line had no idea what I was wearing, but I certainly felt more professional!

8 comments:

Jason said...

If you feel professional, you sounds professional.

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

We have been taught when talking to customers on the phone to smile and feel confident thus we will give a positive impression. It sounds like you have done the correct thing. I pray that if this is something you want to do that you impressed them. God bless.

Sarah said...

I would definately ned to be showered and tidy, but could probably stay in the trackies. I hope the interview went well and you get good news soon.
I also feel that I have to ask you how a taco can also be salad...?
Here, taco's are crunchy corn shells filled with meat/bean and salad stuff... can't imagine how that can become a salad!

Susan Rose Francois, CSJP said...

Sarah,

Here too a taco is a crunchy corn shell with fillings. There I think they are exactly the same.

But imagine if you will a taco bar (our kitchen counter) filled with all the filling type things - taco meat, beans, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, cheese, olives, peppers, etc... Oooh, and some tortilla chips as well (that's the taco part).

To build your own yummy taco salad you put some tortilla chips on your plate (some people break them up into small pieces firsr), then put all the assorted meat and salad fixings on top.

Voila! Taco salad. It's quite yummy.

In my experience, almost ANYTHING can become a salad!

Anonymous said...

I think you did the right thing with the clothes :) Whatever *makes* you the most comfortable helps you *sound* most comfortable. Keeping fingers crossed for you!

Mmmmm. Taco salad -- now I know what I'm gonna have for lunch today!

Lisa said...

We do something similar with tacos but to make a taco salad you can add the toppings on a bed of lettuce and tomato. Chips on the side or mixed in as you like.

Ann M. Mione said...

I have heard that you are supposed to dress professionally for phone interviews but I've always found I can switch myself into "professional mode" pretty easily no matter what I am wearing.

I think it depends on how comfortable you are in interviews and on the phone.

Lisa said...

I agree - whatever makes you feel best during the interview is what I'd select for a phone interview. Dressing for (in person) interviews is not as cut and dry as it once was. The range of workplace cultures makes for a bit more difficult task so in some ways I think it's more accurate to phone interview first (and be dressed as you feel most comfortable for that round).