It's a government gig

This day, Friday, May 6, which was a rather sunny afternoon, at 4:00 PM, I had a job interview. Wait, let me correct that...to be more precise, it was an interview for a "student trainee" position.

Yes, 4:00 PM! I found that particular timeslot as both a possible weakness and potential strength in terms of my likelihood of moving up to the next round of interviews (if there even is another round).

Weaknesses: The interviewer panel is tired, it's 4:00 PM on a Friday, they've been interviewing all day; they saw 2 people in person- myelf and my classmate Serena; had 2 phone interviews, one to Cambridge, MA (I assume a planning student from HarMit) and another to Madison, WI (UW has a good planning program); the fact that the competition is likely to be overqualified; the fact that I myself am really tired, too, and I even LOOK tired; the fact I don't know a TON about Oakland (although it reminds me of DC a lot, culturally, economically, etc.).

Strength:I am the last person they see; I have a relaxed, nothing-to-lose demeanor; I make some good personal connections with the two panelists; there are quite a few UCB alum already working in their office; AND, with great skill I nailed the first question they ask. That question was ubiquitously, "So, why do you want to work for Oakland's Redevelopment Agency?" To that, I reeled off a rather poetic narrative that really impressed "Ray", one of the Project Managers. I discussed his pet project, the Cesar Chavez Education Center. As I was detailing my admiration for this particular community asset, I could see Ray getting all excited, like he wanted to bust in and claim authorship of the story I was telling. But I didn't let him! He was practically wriggling in his seat once I finished. Heh, heh.

Later on, when they "turned it over to me" to ask them some questions, I made a query about the nature of the political and community alliances of the agency. Again, Ray was all excited to start talking and kept saying that was a very intelligent question to ask (why, you don't say?...). Then I met their boss, I can't recall his name, but he seemed like a very cool dude. He only stayed for a few minutes, but he was also eager to put his $0.02 in on that question.

I will hear the results of this interview next week. Now, if anything comes of it, I have to figure out how to again weave some equally inspiring words together to break it to them I will be in Thailand until late June. For what it's worth, it was a good practice round.

Back to work.