20 Something Story: Lauren

I caught up with Lauren, (one of my best friends from high school), last week.

Lauren’s out in Chicago, where she graduated with a degree in political science last May.

But her real passion?  Food.

About 2 years before she graduated, Lauren realized that she didn’t want to get into politics.  She wanted to get into the equally competitive and cut-throat restaurant business.  With a degree from The University of Chicago, you wouldn’t think it’d be too hard for Lauren to at least get a job as a server. Not so much.

“I replied to this one Craigslist ad for a server, the only one that said it paid 14 an hour, and required no experience,” Lauren said.  It seemed too good to be true, and it was. The ad requested a credit check, and her social security number upfront.  When Lauren searched the name of the supposed restaurant, she found there was no phone number, or actual location.  The email address was Italian.

Lauren had legitimate interviews too.  But usually, she could feel something was off.

“I felt like I was going on a string of blind dates,” Lauren laughs to me on the phone.  “Bad blind dates. Like I had to pretend to be someone I’m not, because I was trying to impress them.  Like, ‘Yea, I’m super organized. I’m great at Excel  spreadsheets!”

“And did they buy it?  Did they call you back?” I ask.

“No. They stood me up.”

But like the dating world, sometimes that special job comes along that just feels right. Maybe it’s not the perfect job, but interviewing for it, you feel like you can be yourself, like you don’t have to spin any bs.  You click.

For Lauren, that job turned out to be a working at a new gourmet sandwich shop in Chicago. Although it’s just an entry level position as a cashier, Lauren was excited that this job could lead to bigger things. When she interviewed, she felt free to express her ambitions to move up quickly, and learn the business end of restaurant management.  The staff even asked her what was on her ipod, and told her she could miss work, but only for approved concerts.

And like a good date, they called her back that week, for a second interview.

I told Lauren to let me know how it went.   I wanted to know if I should believe in true love.

Turns out, there are some happy endings. Lauren was offered the job this past Friday.

Where it takes her, we’ll wait and see.