So I did a thing the other day …

When I want to read whatever book I’m on at the moment, I grab my Kindle, handbag, car keys and aim for a coffee shop or restaurant.  Why?  I don’t know.  Perhaps I’m too distracted at home by “oh, there’s that thing over there that I meant to deal with” kind of of stuff. 

Having foolishly signed up for a year of Panera’s Daily Sip Cup, I headed out for their store on East Broad.  After getting my coffee and a bite to eat, I snagged a booth in the far, far back.  Opened my e-reader and plunged into an early chapter of The Museum of Ordinary People.  Just as I was settling in, the conversation at a nearby table broke into my reality. Unable to block it out and regain concentration, I gave up and decided to eavesdrop.

It was a job interview in progress.

Having a background in Human Resource Management, this was more intriguing than my book!  I decided to suss it out.

There were three people, two women and a man.  It was easy to figure out the voice of main interviewer (the man) and the interviewee (a younger sounding woman).  The third woman was an interviewer, but secondary to the guy.

The interviewers were pretty good, but the interviewee was great.  Her answers sounded honest and real and really painted a picture of who she was and how she may fit into the organization.  She wasn’t selling herself and much as simply saying “based on these experiences, this is who I am, how I do things and why.” 

I’d given up on my book, finished lunch, listened to way more of the conversation than is normal and decided it was time to go.  But then I had an idea.

Finding an old paper receipt in the bottom of handbag, I wrote the following on the back of it:

“Hi. I am a retired Director of Human Resources and I would hire her in a heartbeat.”

Gathering my stuff, I deposited my trash, wiped my table and headed out.  Passing their table, I handed the folded receipt to the man, who looked at it for a beat and finally took it. I continued walking and, after a few steps and without turning around, I raised my arm in a backwards wave and thumbs up and left.

Moral of the story: You never know who might be listening…