Land Of The Lost

I now reside in the "Land of the Lost" !!
I am caught in that VERY GRAY area between Redneck and Metrotech!! I no longer know whether to "dress it up" or "dumb it down" when going on a job interview! When I lived in the city, there was no question....corporate business attire was ALWAYS the required costume. In the country setting I now live in....how DO I dress??...assuming, of course that I'll actually GET a job interview?? If I wear the standard corporate attire from my city days, I'll NEVER get a job. I actually went to an employment agency in a nearby town. Before I even opened my mouth, the receptionist informed me that they "mostly deal with general labor type jobs" and had "no postings for clerical work". WAS SHE CLAIRVOYANT??

Next job interview....I wore jeans, with a nice blazer (it was a cool day) and I was STILL overdressed for the office to which I was applying. Even so...I felt like a slob. I had NEVER before in my life gone to a job interview wearing jeans!! I ended up getting the job, but after 4 mos., they fired me. That was also a first!! I'm nearly 58 yrs old...been working since I was 14, and NEVER, EVER, been fired. The only reason they gave me at the time was "this just isn't working out". As they refused to be any more specific than that, I could only let my imagination wander!

Should I have worn the "Go Team!!" T-Shirt on game day (showing my support of the local high school's team)) as did my co-workers? Should I have tucked my pants legs INTO my boots like some of the people in the shop?? Did I need a can of Skoal in my back pocket?? Should I have attended that "jewelry party" with the other women in the office??

Camoflage was very big there. When I say BIG, I'm not kidding!! ALL the chairs in the entire office were done in "Mossy Oak" camo fabric. The FILING CABINETS were painted in a camo pattern!! Most everyone wore camo jackets on cold days. I learned that there were varying types of camo! WOW, what a revelation!! Duck camo....Deer camo....Fish camo (say WHAT?!) EVERY individual office had at least one dead duck on the wall,(if not several), and others had assorted taxidermed fish & local wildlife carcasses adorning their walls. I was definitely the outsider....and it showed!!

In the 4 mos. I worked there, I was never...no, not even once....invited to join a co-worker for lunch. This would have never happened in the corporate environments I'm accustomed to! You NEVER let the "newbie" flounder alone for an hour at lunch time!! You gotta take these people under your wing & show them where the best fare is to be found! (You can also learn a lot in an hour about the new person in the office!) This type info can be invaluable down the road!

Of all the "job search sites" I subscribe to, this particular scenario isn't well covered, however, I did read one article that said an applicant "...should try to dress like the other employees....look as though you already work there!"

If one of my readers would like to make a "goodwill" donation.....I'll go buy some camo gear so I'll be able to ace my next interview!! LOL