The Job Interview 39

The Job Interview

This is just a little story about interviewing a new secretary and the flirtation that results. I was shooting for 750 words, came in a bit high, and decided to keep it as it is. I hope you like it.

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"Mister Smith, the next candidate for the secretarial position is here."

I could hear the slight giggle in Janet's voice. She'd been my secretary for eight years, but she was now moving on because of a significant promotion that her husband had received. It's just so inconvenient to lose good people.

"Send her in Ms. Jenkins."

My office door opened, and Janet escorted the new candidate into my office. I do try very hard to maintain a proper professional decorum in the office, but for just a moment I was stunned. She wasn't as young as some of the candidates, but she had a poise and a presence about her that suggested confidence and maturity combined with raw sensuality.

"Mr. Smith, this is Denise Matthews. She's been raising her young children for a few years, but with her youngest now off to school she's looking to return to the workforce."

As Janet turned to leave my office, the two gave each other a knowing smile and she said, "Your experience with young children will serve you well with this one." There was that giggle again.

For a moment, I caught myself smiling just a bit too much and struggled to calm myself.

"So, is it Ms. or Mrs.?"

"Ms."

"Very good. So, did you bring your resume?"

"Yes I did" and then with a little trepidation she handed me the single-sheet resume.

I looked it over and all the while glancing over the top of the page. She was a lovely woman about my age or just a few years younger. She wore a very professional suit that failed to hide her curves as she sat poised on the edge of the chair. She certainly presented well.

"I see you are a graduate of Columbia and with excellent grades."

"I am, as I believe you are as well." A man could grow accustomed to that smile.

"I see you have a business degree. You do realize this is for a secretarial position, right?"

"Yes. I was hoping that I might learn the business from the bottom and perhaps have the opportunity to work my way up to something with greater responsibility."

"Well, you do have a degree where most of our office staff are either trained secretaries or self-taught." I thought for a moment about that employment gap. "Are you current in most office software?"

"We have both Apple and Microsoft computers at home, and I have recently taken a course in Linux that would enable me to work below the Apple screen at the operating system level."

"Impressive!" I was grinning like a fool and unsure whether it was because of her high qualifications or the thought of working alongside those lovely legs and intoxicating smile.

"There are sometimes deadlines that require us to work late hours. Can you manage that?"

I wondered if she could read minds and she hesitated for a moment. "I have a nanny who will care for my two children when they get home from school, and she can work late when necessary. I'd rather not make it a regular affair..." She seemed to emphasize that word "affair" to the point it momentarily took my breath away.

"Well, in most cases we know in advance, so hopefully you will have time to warn your nanny." There was no doubt that I was leaning in favor of hiring this woman. Ten minutes into the interview and my imagination was running wild with the possibilities.

I was one short impulse away from suggesting there would be times when she would need to travel with me, but in all the time Janet had worked with me she had never once traveled for business. I decided to hold that back. For now, my own imagination was more fun.

"Tell me, Ms. Matthews, what does your husband think of you returning to the workforce?" It was a dangerous question, and she could probably file a complaint against me just for asking.

"Well, if I get the job, I suppose I will need to ask him. He has always been very supportive of me in the past, and I think this will be no exception. Still, I do prefer to keep my personal and profession life separate."

With a pause as I considered all the implications, she said, "May I ask what the salary is for this position?" She seemed to emphasize that word "position".

"With your qualifications, the starting salary would be $21/hour with two weeks of vacation every year. That translates into just under $44,000 annually. We provide health care and retirement accounts with a matching company copay, and we do offer bonuses based on the company having a successful year."

"And I assume I would be working closely with you?"

"Yes, I think I can guarantee we'd be working very closely."

She seemed to like my response while her smile stirred me. "When might I hear your decision?"

"I will decide in the next twenty-four hours and let you know, but I think I can safely say you are our most promising candidate."

Rising, she offered her hand saying, "I look forward to hearing from you."

I could not help but watch her as she opened my office door to leave. Then turning back to me, she said with a smile, "We're having pot roast for dinner tonight, Daniel. Try not to be late."

After she left, I thought to myself, "Cheeky girl, using her maiden name. I wonder what surprise she will dream up tomorrow?"

There was no doubt about it. Life at the office would never be the same again.

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I like the idea of a wife who injects a little playfulness into their marriage, but I assume her job application was sincere. So I dreamed up this idea of a wife and mother with her kids now old enough for school who wants to reenter the workforce. What better way than to work alongside her husband to form an unbeatable team?