Yesterday morning,my cell phone popped,I thought it's my usual 5am alarm, fortunately it was a mail. Seeing that it's a job interview invitation,I quickly opened it because I needed a higher paying job to solve the numerous financial challenges at home.
It was an invitation for a chat by 9am with the Human Resource Manager of the company at Jahi,Abuja;where I applied for job few weeks ago.
I quickly arranged my credentials and went through some assumed interview questions."Now I am ready for any interview question"I said to myself.
I hurriedly brought out my suit and ironed it because it's already 7:45am. "Are you sure you will not be late to this interview scheduled for 9 am, Michael?" I asked to myself.
By 8:30am I left the house for the interview and boarded a motorcycle to Efab Junction.
Immediately I alighted,I searched for money to pay, sadly I couldn't see any money in my pocket.To avoid further embarrassment, I quickly pleaded with the motorcyclist to take me back to the house , I kept asking myself "where did I misplace this money?". After several plea,he agreed to take me back.As we got home, I hurriedly entered my room. To my utmost surprise, the money was on the table, "who kept this money here,it could be me anyway since I'm the only one at home." I said to myself as I took the money and rushed out to meet the motorcyclist, unfortunately I couldn't see him again. I was already feeling confused and sweating profusely as I remembered that walking down to the estate gate will take about 200 Km. I looked at my wrist watch and the time was almost 9 :30 am, the thought of staying back since I couldn't get motorcycle ran through my mind but I remained optimistic and kept walking down the street slowly, suddenly I boarded another motorcycle that drove me to the Efab gate; where I boarded another motorcycle to Lokogoma Junction.
When I got to the junction,I quickly boarded a tricycle that took me to Airport Junction; where I was lucky to board an almost filled bus,I joined them and this journey took about 30 minutes drive.
Inside the bus ,one mind was telling me that I'm wasting money because the interview is over but another mind was telling me to keep moving,that I may be lucky to meet up the interview. After few minutes,we got to katampe junction along Oando bus stop, Jahi . I alighted at Oando Bus stop and asked questions on the address of the place for the interview, then I quickly boarded a motorcycle to the place and I got to the gate of the company at exactly 12:15 pm. I walked straight to the security man who sat at the gate of the company, "Are you here for interview?",he asked and knowing that I'm late to the interview,I nodded reluctantly, expecting a negative response, surprisingly he told me to come in and sign my name. I quickly wrote my name and signed. "Alright you may follow me, let me take you to the reception to meet with the front desk Officer other applicants" he said.I followed him to the reception and i was given a seat.
As I looked around, I saw other applicants who were gorgeously dressed and everyone of them had a hardcopy of his/her Curriculum Vitae.
As I sat close to one of the applicants,I noticed that I'm the only person without a printed copy of CV, I decided to go outside the gate to print it out.
I stood for about 20 minutes waiting for motorcycle,then I walk down the street to do it. I kept asking people but I couldn't find any cyber Cafe or computer center around there. I decided to come back to the company believing there must always be a way forward,I boarded bike from Oando bus stop to Magaji street where the company is.I walked straight to the reception.
When I opened the door,I noticed my colleagues were no longer there, luckily the receptionist was still there,"Please where did my colleagues go,or is the interview over?" I asked as I checked my time and it was 2 pm."It took you so long to come back,where did you go?"she asked ." I rushed outside the gate to print out my Curriculum Vitae but I didn't succeed"I replied. "you shouldn't have gone out to do that , you would have spoken out before going,I would have done it here for you",She said. She printed out the CV and gave me the address of the place where my colleagues went to for the interview. I moved immediately to the Oando bus stop and boarded motor car to Wuse 2, where the interview will be held.
On our way to Wuse, our driver didn't obey the traffic in order to meet up but he was arrested by the traffic wardens, we remained at that junction for 30 minutes arguing about the issue. They later allowed us to go after several plea.
When we got to Amino Kano crescent, I alighted and walked straight to the place.
As I checked into the place,i met the receptionist and some security men, I told them that I'm here for the interview, they looked at their wrist watch and one of them said "sit there,let me confirm if the interview is over".
After few minutes he came back and told me to follow him, which I did.He led me into a very beautiful room ,I entered and met my colleagues seated, discussing and playing games. "Hi,have you done the interview?"I asked one of my female colleagues. "No , nothing has been done yet, the management have been in an indoor meeting since morning and most of us are hungry too".She complained.I then relaxed my mind.
It was 3:45pm, a young man came in and told us we have two tests for this interview.According to him, he said we should be getting ready in the next 20 minutes to write the first test. When he said it, everybody began to grumble considering the time.
At exactly 4pm ,we were taken to a larger hall for the first test, We kicked off the test and ended by 4:35pm and the Examiner collected all our papers. He told us to prepare for the oral interview that will commence in the next 10 minutes. I was anxious to know the kind of questions they may ask.The thought kept on running in my my brains as I developed a slight headache because I really needed the job and I wouldn't want to loose this opportunity.
As the headache became more severe,then I bent my head to sleep.After few minutes Mr. Carl came in and called the first person to follow him for the oral interview. After 10 minutes the second person was called until when it got to my turn by 6:23 pm. I entered the office and met 7-man panel, I was told to take a seat, "Do you have any job experience?"one of the interviewers asked. "Yes, I have worked with Startimes company as the Regional Manager and I ...." as I was still speaking, two men entered the office and interrupted the interview and I was immediately told to wait outside. I left the office and noticed I'm the only applicant waiting.
After 30 minutes, one of the interviewers came to me ."Which position are you applying for?" he said looking at me so keenly."Administrative officer Sir"I replied happily. "We are sorry for keeping you waiting till this time, the position has been taken by someone else,Your application will be kept in view until when there is vacancy for such position, thanks" he said and turned to leave. I felt highly disappointed and unhappy because it was already 10:10 pm when I got home,yet I didn't get the job.