Well, Dear Reader,
Here we are, again. This time I'm here to update you.
I got a job. A real, honest to goodness job. A 40 hour-a-week job, a you-don't-get-vacation-until-90-days job.
I'm an admin assistant on a construction site.
I'm overqualified. The reason I know this, in part, is because during my phone interview last week, the lady I replaced said, "You're overqualified." When I got to the wood-paneled trailer for my interview, my new boss said, "You're overqualified."
Yes, I know. But this job was one I applied to after thinking, Hey, this might be fun. And it'll get me away from the screaming children who live on the deck next door to me who do not know what a normal bedtime is for children.
It was the most bizarre interview I've ever had. Fun, yet not quite professional. Questions HR departments would be embarrassed to hear about, but I have a sense of humor and didn't bat an eye. The best (and legal) question I got was, "Have you had any experience around construction guys?" Apparently my 14 years in law firms with attorneys made them nervous that I couldn't handle heckling from the crews or give anyone a piece of my mind should the need arise.
Are they in for a shock. Sometimes, you'd think I was a sailor with the things that can come out of my mouth. I reserve those times for those closest to me, obviously. Or, if you've really pissed me off.
I landed the job that day, though I didn't know until my boss called me up about a half hour after I left the job site. And on Tuesday, I did some training in the corporate office an hour away, and had the last three days in the office with the admin I replaced. It's a lot of information. Scary words like "OSHA inspection" and "blemish that stays on your record for life" and "Porta John" (thankfully, I have my own). Guys who clean splinters out of their hands with pocket knives. Some who don't speak English. Tons of dirt, dust, and loose nails. Blueprints. Drills. Forklifts in yellow and green. Yes, green! Purchase orders, progress meetings, requests for information.
On Wednesday afternoon, I was a little flustered after the admin told me to go use the bathroom, and one of the bosses from the corporate office called, and I blanked on the name of the company. "Hello," I beamed and giggled nervously into the phone, "this is Melinda." The next day, I accidentally hung up on the same guy while trying to take off the mute button. He looks like a judge on The Wire, so I can't help but think he's a happy man. I hope I'm right. I think I am.
My boss, the superintendent, is 35, and also a farmer. He looks more seasoned. One of his cows had a calf today. The boss has long sandy colored hair that he always wears in a ponytail, and he has a belt buckle given to him by a friend that is maroon with a creme-colored imprint of guitar pegs in the middle. He's quite funny, loves coffee all day long, is pulled in all directions at once, and still manages to keep his cool. And he can take the ribbing from his admins. Like how he was so picky that the admin gave her notice a month ago and it took him 3 weeks to find me so all I got was four days' training.
The admin I'm replacing is fiery, to say the least. A huge flirt, which works well on this job, and about the size of my pinky, even though she eats all. day. long. She was one organized chick, so I have big shoes to fill. But I'm glad not to have to share the desk anymore. Today was a bit long. I hate being micromanaged. I can figure out Excel myself!
The guys....oh, the guys....everyday, the foremen report to me the number of guys they have on site, the time they get there and the time they leave, and what they're doing in the building. I take this information and put it in a daily report for the corporate office. So for the morning, it's relatively busy with guys coming in one after another to check in, and then they go out for the day. Sometimes I walk in the building to see what's going on. Tomorrow I'm to study the blueprints to figure out what everything means. I got a nice compliment today from one of the guys: "For a girl, I think you've done real well on the construction site."
Me and my pink hard hat agree.
