The World Caught Up With Me.

I was supposed to go take a drive to the beach this morning but instead I am at home cleaning and reorganizing my closet. I wanted to do some painting but I thought it more urgent to get in tune with the world since I have to go back into it and all.

For the past 2 years I worked for an organization that basically did not care about what I looked like. They liked me, I worked hard, I was (damn) good at my job and so it didn’t matter what I came to work in. Additionally I worked with young people and had lots of after work meetings. That translated into a dress code of jeans and jerseys. One day in a staff meeting the boss even gave a speech about how she really didn’t want to have to iron every day. In 2 weeks we had office polos.

Working in these types of environs can be alarmingly comforting; especially for the women there. You aren’t valued for your look but your ability to produce and innovate. Hell! There was an incident where a new employee came to work in formal business attire and at her 3 month probation meeting she was asked to “respect the ethos of the organization through her attire without losing her sense of self and personal pride” i.e. dress up less. This is not say you didn’t have to look decent and or stylist. The operations manager came to work in very stylized jackets and jeans. I came to work in tailored men’s pants and polos with my black jacket for meetings. However if one day you came to working in casual clothes no might actually notice.

Anyway I have left there and I am reintroducing myself to the ‘corporate’ world of work. I got my first dose last night at an interview for a part-time secretary. Now, I have no secretarial experience. The sum total of my ‘secretarial experience’ is having a secretary. I thought though that the experience of an interview would be good for me. A good face to face interview but I am not holding my breath for a call back I don’t think I typed fast enough in the typing trial.

I was more taken aback by the business attire of the other young women there. I was clearly under dressed in my brown linen pants, 3 quarter sleeve gray and brown tunic and my, yellow and brown ballet flats with the ruffle on the front. Silly me I thought this being a part time job to work from home I just had to turn up looking decent. Oh no... ! Most of the women can in full business attire. I mean there were actually 2 women wearing the same suite: gray skirt suit with 3 quarter length pencil skirt and black inner shirt.

Now at first I thought most of them had jobs and just came from work. Only to come to find out that the reason that I was short listed for the interview was because I was of one of 3 persons who were at present working. The other 2 interviewed during the day. Then I argued that well maybe they dressed up because it IS an interview and you put your best foot forward.

That explanation does not stick for me though.

So I am home this morning trying to look into my closet and find work wear so that I may reintegrate with the rest of society. I can’t say that I am pleased but at least I can fit into most of my old clothes.

:)