The Job Interview
Vocabulary
| kaput | wave (2) | break (2) |
| hope | despair | desperate |
| glove | hopeless | neckerchief |
| spare | flat tire | boy scout |
| jack | wrench | upcoming |
| avoid | spare tire | accounting |
| rag | tire (2) | take off (3) |
| wipe | replace | glove compartment |
| traffic | reception | traffic jam |
| pause | hallway | appointment |
| within |
On the Side of the Road
Tony glanced at his fuel tank gauge; it was running low. “I’ll have to fill it up later today,” he thought. He passed by a gas station. Prices have gone up, yet again.
Huh? What’s that?
Off in the distance, Tony spotted a gray automobile on the side of the road. Somebody was standing next to it.
As he drew nearer, he saw that it was a woman. She waved her arms.
“Sorry, I can’t stop now,” said Tony out loud. “I’ve got a make-or-break job interview in 30 minutes.”
Other cars drove by without slowing down.
He could now make her out. She appeared to be about 43, and wore a light-green suit and red neckerchief — just like the one he wore when he was a Boy Scout.
The Boy Scouts!
Tony stepped on his brakes and stopped his car behind the woman’s. He got out.
Assisstance
“Oh, I need some help. Could you please lend me a hand?” she said to Tony.
“Certainly. What’s the problem? asked Tony.”
“I have a flat tire on the other side. But I don’t have a jack; my neighbor had borrowed it, but hasn’t returned it yet.”
“No problem.”
Tony went back to his car and brought out his wrench and jack, and then opened the woman’s truck and took out her spare tire.
He began jacking up her car. Having changed flat tires a few times in the past, he knew exactly what to do.
Hurry
But Tony’s real concern was his upcoming interview at an insurance company. He worked as fast as he could — but made sure he did everything properly.
After about 20 minutes, he had replaced the tire.
“Oh thank you so much, young man . . . Take this for your troubles,” she said, handing him a twenty and a ten dollar bill.
“Oh, you keep it,” said Tony. “No problem . . . It’s my Scout’s Honor!”
“I have to run now — I’m really late for work. Bye.”
The woman got in her car and drove off.
Tony put back his jack and wrench, got into his car, and wiped his hands with a rag he kept in the glove compartment. Then he took off . . . and ran smack into heavy traffic.
“Oh shoot!”
The Reception
After what seemed like an eternity, the road finally cleared up, and Tony sped along.
Coming into town, he went to the insurance company. It was already 16 minutes past his appointment time.
“Oh god. I’ll never get that accounting position now,” he thought.
He ran to the reception area.
“Good morning…huh…huh…I’m Tony Buford. I’m here for the job interview…huh…huh…” he said to the receptionist.
The receptionist picked up her desk phone and pressed a button.
“A Mr. Tony Buford is here for a job interview,” she said. After a brief pause, she hung up.
“Okay, go to room 209,” she told Tony.
The Job Interview
Tony ran down the hallway.
Upon reaching room 209, he pausing for a moment . . . then knocked on the door.
“Come in,” said a voice from within.
Tony opened the door.
Inside, he saw a large desk. Behind it sat a woman in her early to mid forties. She wore a light green suit and a red neckerchief.
Questions
Receptionist. In the beginning, Tony was cruising in his car with his girlfriend. Is this true or false?
Secretary, Office Clerk. What did he see on the road?
Office Manager. Did Tony drive on? did he continue driving? Why did he stop? Was he taking a risk?
Bookkeeper, Accountant, Finance Manager. What did he do? What happened next?
Supervisor, Boss. How did Tony feel when he arrived at the insurance company? What did he think?
Manager. What happened at the end?
CEO, President. What is the moral or lesson of the story?
Human Resources. Have you had any job interviews? What was it like?
Floor. Have you fixed or tinkered with your car or other machinery?
Finance Department. Can you think of similar examples of this in real life?
IT Department. What can you say about quid pro quo? or reciprocity?
Administration. What could or should you and others do?
