So I had an interview at Barefoot Books this morning. If you're not familiar with the company, they're a small press that focuses on picture books for young children. About 2 months ago, I sent them my resume for an associate editor position, but was told I didn't have enough relevant experience. Last week, I got asked to come in and interview for the U.S. editor position, a senior position that would be in charge of the entire U.S. line.
I thought at first that they must have confused me with someone else, but in doing a little research, they're currently restaffing, and it looks like they're wanting to hire young, relatively inexperienced people so they don't have other business models already stuck in their heads, since Barefoot is trying out some new marketing methods.
So--until talking to a couple friends recently, I was just figuring I'd go in, meet some people, have a nice morning and never hear from them again. But my friends encouraged me that I should go in with confidence that they really did want to talk to me, and so I prepared more for this interview than I do for most. Not only did I do the manuscript evaluation the publisher requested of me, I also went over in my head the way I should answer some questions I knew were bound to come up, not least of which is why someone in the middle of a master's program would be interviewing for a highly demanding full-time position.
Well, I think I answered that one okay--as well as can be expected, for there's no really good professional answer. I just feel that I can get as much experience working in the field as I can from my program, and plus I'd rather be making money than spending it. How do you say this nicely in an interview? I still haven't found a good way.
But the one that got me was this: she asked me how many hours I've been working at Houghton Mifflin, and I told her full time, and she said, "Wow, that must give you absolutely no time for homework." Well, my professional, prepared answer was this: it's helped me to prioritize, it's helped me to know that I can get through the tough times, etc. This is what I said, however, because my mind went blank: yeah, it's hard sometimes, but it's all right. My teachers have been very understanding, and I just need to survive the semester--or something like that.
Augh! That's an honest answer, sure, but not a very good one. Basically, I said that I'm a loser who's not doing well in school (which isn't true--I have a 4.0--and she asked me my undergrad gpa, but not my grad, and my grad one is better, and I should have offered it! augh!) and that I have to work because of money problems (true, but not to the point).
I can only hope that she was impressed by my knowledge of picture books and my experience in publishing.
And THEN! Here's my other rant.
a. They should not make 3-inch heels.
b. Even though they make 3-inch heels, I need to throw mine out, to avoid temptation. The problem is that these shoes are so uncomfortable to wear that I've had them 2 years and they still look brand-new. So, when I have something important--like, say, a job interview--those are the ones I choose to wear, despite what I know will be excruciating pain, because I haven't been able to find a new pair of nice black shoes that go with any of my professional outfits. So all I have are two pairs of dress shoes with scuffed toes and broken soles, and this pair of 3-inch heels. They're nice and big, chunky loafer-looking shoes, so they look good with professional outfits, but man, is it painful.
And did I mention I live in Boston? Yeah. I walk 6 blocks to the bus stop, transfer to the T at Harvard Square, and walk another 4 blocks to the office where the interview is. Just
sitting with these shoes on is painful. Why do we allow this!??!
Well, I'll let you all know if it actually went better than I thought. Lately when the interview goes well, nothing comes of it, so maybe the opposite is true.
Oh--and one last thing. I come home, change my clothes, and I'm sitting here in an old t-shirt that I just realized I put on backwards. This isn't my day.
