Page 3 of Devil in the Details
Iset the red pen down and rubbed my eyes, tired because I hadn’t been able to sleep last night then had gotten up at the ass crack of dawn to job hunt. I placed my hands on the table and looked around at the small coffee shop I was currently holed up in, the newspaper open in front of me, the classified section staring back at me.
I had a few red circles around some prospective jobs, but I was feeling so down in the dumps that I didn’t have much hope of finding anything decent.
Picking up the pen again, I pulled the cap off and focused on the paper, scrolling through each ad. There were a few that required no experience, but I’m sure they were shit positions.
The majority required some kind of degree with a lot of experience—the kind I didn’t exactly have.
And the associates degree I did have wouldn’t hold a candle to the other hundred candidates applying for the jobs. When Isaid I’d been lucky to land the job for Brookwood, I hadn’t been kidding.
I was about to give up for the day when an ad caught my attention.
Administrative Assistant
Advertising Firm
Maxim and Dexter is looking for a highly-motivated and alert person to perform numerous general official, computer-related (data entry), and receptionist duties.
Essential Functions
• Manage, organize, and maintain time calendar, scheduling, and reminding appointments
• Arrange for any materials required (presentations, documentation, print hand-outs, memos, agendas) for all meetings efficiently
• Take notes in meetings, conferences, and day-to-day activities
• Perform other administrative duties
Requirements
• Education: High school degree
• Experience: No prior experience necessary
• Basic project management ability
• Ability to organize tasks, research, and keep records
• Highly dependable and trustworthy: maintain confidentiality having access to extremely sensitive documents
Qualified candidates should apply by e-mailing their resume with a cover letter to:[email protected]
I liftedmy eyebrows as I read the “no prior experience necessary” part. That would definitely work in my favor.
I ran the pen around the ad, marking it with a giant red circle. Then I just stared at it. That ad was the best one I’d seen so far.
I finished off my coffee, folded up the paper, and shoved it in my purse. As soon as I got home, I’d work on sending these resumes in, and then hope like hell something stuck. I grabbed the pen, stood, and slipped the strap of my purse over my shoulder before heading out. The scent of coffee and pastries filled my nose as I left.
I pushed the door open and immediately the sights, sounds, and smells of city life surrounded me. Car horns blared, people shouted, and the smell of car exhaust and street vendor food filled the air. You could practically feel the sun beating down on the asphalt, cooking you from your feet up.
It was all what I’d gotten used to, what I called home for several years now.
I was about to hail a cab, even though I really should have been walking to conserve my funds, but fuck it. It was hot and I was tired. But before I could even lift my arm, I heard my phone ringing from inside my purse.
After fishing it out, I saw Michael’s face on the screen. “Hello,” I said into the receiver as I started to head down the sidewalk. Forget the cab. It wasn’t like the exercise wouldn’t do me good.
“Hey, so we’re all set. I hope you don’t have anything planned for Saturday.” Michael jumped right into whatever reason he’d called, leaving me confused.
“You’re gonna have to refresh my memory on what you set up.” I tried to stay out of everyone’s way, but I was getting bumped and pushed, everyone acting like they were in the biggest hurry to get to their destination.
