THE INTERVIEW

One of the days I went job hunting, I decided to submit my Resume to Studio 24 on 46 Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja; before I graduated from the University, I had always had  greed for their government, I will never forget the day that my Big Brother told me that they had a branch in Ikoyi, Lagos- I was jubilating as though manner fell down from heaven, another memorable day I have of Studio 24 was when my Uncle Adejoh told me they had a branch in Kano; my place of birth (Yes I’m Lot’s wife and I will always look back to Kano) on Audu Bako Way. Believe me this time; my family members had begun to suspect that I had some unknown ties with Studio 24 and my Dad warned that he will soon find out.

The Christmas of 2013, I dragged my Family to take pictures in Studio 24 at 46 Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja but unfortunately, the queue was unforgivably lengthy and my Dad felt he had better and more important things to do than putting arms akimbo and shinning teeth for pictures and he assured me of another Christmas. That must have been my worst Christmas… Yes! Just because of ordinary picture O- as my Older and Younger Sisters teased. It wasn’t just about the pictures; it was the joy they made me feel. It was the chronology they had of taking all our Family pictures and doing passports for visas. It was also the love of relating stories to captured shots. It was the unseen light they shone into my soul.

Recently, that light died out and I felt a heavy duty door shut in my loins. I sensed a heavy metal on my diaphragm; and I think this was the first time I almost felt depression first hand but thank God for family and the best of friends. I had always heard that some of my fellow women are the numero uno problem providers at work places as they are usually not nice accompanied with dagger stares and some attitudinal errors but that shouldn’t really concern anyone especially if you were job hunting, you should look past through all of that and fight to the finish. This was what I muscled up to do until I had a reality check.

I went to Studio 24 on 46 Ademola Adetokunbo to submit my Resume with some passport I had taken from another Studio 24- 792B Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, still Wuse II. I met a guy who seemed nice who told me his name was Emmanuel but that he was called Kise around the office. For someone I was meeting for the first time, I felt he was a nice guy because he put me through and to be honest, I was grateful and thanked him for the act of kindness. I briefed Emmanuel on how I would love to work with Studio 24 and the connection I felt anytime I came there to take pictures. At first, I wanted to work at Front Desk which I later discovered they called CSO: Customer Service Officer, then alternatively do something that was joy-breeding like being a Photography intern or an assistant Photographer for Studio 24.

Kise instructed that I go up to the Human Resource Manager and speak with him and then act on his response which I did then the Human Resource Manager redirected me to a Lady called Alice who might have had the world’s troubles on her shoulders and probably felt that if he husband had cheated on her recently, then I must be her new rival. I have met attitude and given attitude to people as well but in my history of knowing attitude, this was its zenith. If dagger stares could materialize, I definitely would never be healed of the injuries. Firstly she told me to submit my Resume and Cover Letter which I did and she had chagrin in her voice; this time, I was convinced that I could never be the problem then she finally asked for 2 copies of my passports and I handed them over. She told me I should report on Wednesday morning for an interview and I began to feel blessed. I was jumping for the greatest joy!!! It is an honor and a rare privilege to be called upon for an interview immediately you submit your papers and I felt grace hovering like a halo around my crown.

I reported at 10:00am for an 11:00am interview and was given a seat to sit. I sat at the corner of their office- upstairs right on top of the studio and while I was waiting, I took one of the honest books ever written “The Ten Commandments of Dating by Ben Young & Dr. Samuel Adams” of all times to bless myself with a good read. While I was at it, a dark skinned man with an admirable gusto walked past me, his voice was catchy and his accent made the ears savor for its lilt. I refused to look up probably because I felt that my book was more interesting than anything happening around me. In some minutes, the owner of this voice walked past me again and I heard him ask in his polished tone: “You love to read huh?” and raising my head with a smile, I said: “Yes Sir, Good Morning”. He asked to see the cover of my book in the most cheerful way and he took the book by its spine and heaved his eyes upon the title and its authors then he turned to me and said; “I should get this book very soon”. He seemed funny to me probably because I felt he should be married with some kids and still looking forward to reading this honest fantasy I had in mine hands. He wished me luck after our short conversation and went about his normal duties.

Shortly after, I was summoned for my interview by a Lady whose name I later found out was Odion; She had a black patent (aka wet looks) brogues on, a pair of blue jeans and checkered-long sleeve boyfriend shirt- her style was simple and I admired it. Her hair was braided in Ghana weave-in and it gave a balance to what she had on. I thought she was pretty too until my interview was over. Firstly she said: tell me about yourself; so, I told her about my internships with two major radio stations in the Federal Capital Territory and what I had done there and types of software I knew how to work with and projects I had done generally but all concerning the opportunity I was being considered for which was Customer Service Officer. She gave a nod and asked: “Do you think you are fashionable?” and replying I said: “I know I am fashionable” I even went further to tell her that there is no rigid or defined way that fashion and style should go but individual preference is key. I mean, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Katty Perry are three fashionable women whose styles are distinct: while Beyonce wears debutante clothes and rocks her looks, Gaga loves to wear meat and stay inside egg, ride a horse with her Princess dress and Perry loves wearing candies… all three women, very high fashion but they have their own definition of fashion and to a heterogeneous masses across the globe, they look exceptional!!!.

On the day of my interview, I wore a white ‘Asos’ top that had a black bow on the breast plate and a plain Black ‘New Look’ suit, my flat pumps were New Look as well. I parked my hair with a doughnut bun and my face was plain because I have never felt that I looked horrendous without makeup in fact many of my friends and even haters always tell me I do not need an ounce of makeup to define my looks; in their own words, “Maria, you look beautiful even without makeup” and I know a million people will not lie like that. (I am laughing at myself right now). This Lady called Odion looked at me with squeezed brows; she probably was irritated by my confidence and started at me in a rather rough tone. She said: “Look at your face, you do not have makeup on, look at your nails, they are not even fixed or painted, look at your brows, they are not even drawn. I saw you yesterday, you were on black all through with Gold accessories, I saw you, and I do not think you are a fashionable person” These words cut through me like a quadruple edged dagger. She began to murmur some statements then she called a guy with a mini afro named Dami and asked him: “Do you think she is fashionable?” After a stare, he said: ‘No!’ And for a moment a reality check almost dawned on me but I thought to myself: “who really dresses like a runway model for an interview or was something happening in the 21^st century that I am missing out on?” Shortly after, Dami asked me other things I could do and I listed the editing suites that I could make use of. After my interview, I had to go back downstairs to thank Mr. Kise for his help and told him how my interview went.

In narrating, my heart almost broke for me to start tearing up but I refused to be controlled by my emotions even though I had felt talked down and looked down upon. I felt I had been judged for being natural at that moment and because I was decently dressed for an interview without prior notice on the web on how I should dress for the interview, I was unfashionable, I was not stylish. I was talked down and spat upon in these words: “You are not the thing that we want O”. I was in dismay, I felt broken but this also opened my mind to one thing even though I have heard it over and over while growing up that ‘all that glitters is not gold’, I probably took it trivially. I also learned that you should never submit your being, your all (in other words, greeing for something or someone’s government) to anything from a distance, because you will be disappointed. Just like me.

This was the first part of the drama; I shall finish the second part tomorrow.