The Funny Job Interview

The Funny Job Interview

  There was a girl named **Lina**. Lina was kind, friendly, and always smiling. But she was also a little bit silly. She forgot things easily, she got confused very fast, and sometimes she said strange things without thinking. Still, she wanted to do something important with her life. One day, Lina decided that she needed a job. She wanted to be more independent. She wanted to earn her own money so she could buy her favorite cookies and maybe a big purple hat she saw in a shop window. So, she looked for job offers in the newspaper. She found an ad that said: **”Office Assistant Needed. Full-Time. Must be responsible.”** Lina liked the word “assistant,” because it sounded friendly. She did not really know what it meant, but she thought, *“I can help people. I like helping. This job must be perfect for me!”* So she called the number in the ad. “Hello!” she said with a loud, excited voice. “I want to help! I want to be your assistant! I am very good at… uh… organizing pencils and smiling at people!” The manager on the phone paused for a second. Then he said, “Alright… you can come for an interview tomorrow at 10:00 AM.” Lina was so happy. She jumped around her room and practiced walking like a “professional woman.” She also practiced saying important things like, “Yes, I understand,” and, “I will handle it immediately.” She felt ready. The next morning, Lina woke up early. Too early. It was only 5:00 AM. She got dressed in her best clothes. She wanted to look serious. So she wore a black jacket… and a bright yellow skirt with pictures of ducks on it. She thought the ducks made her look friendly and confident. She looked in the mirror and said, “Yes. I look like a woman with a job.” She arrived at the office at 9:00 AM. One full hour too early. But she thought it was better to be early than late. When she entered the building, she saw many people walking fast, typing, talking on phones, and holding documents. Everything looked so important. Lina felt nervous, but she tried to stay calm. She walked to the reception desk and said, “Hello! I am Lina, the new assistant!” The receptionist looked at her and smiled kindly. “You have an **interview**, right?” “Yes! That is what I said!” Lina answered proudly. She sat down and waited. She looked around the office. There were many plants. Lina whispered to one plant, “Don’t worry, little plant. You are doing great.” Finally, the manager came. He was a tall man with glasses. He looked serious, but not mean. “Hello, Lina. Please, come to my office,” he said. They sat at a small table. “So, Lina,” the manager began, “tell me why you want this job.” Lina smiled big and said, “Because I want to help people and I need money for cookies.” The manager blinked. “Cookies?” “Yes! Delicious ones. With chocolate chips.” The manager was confused, but also a little amused. “Well… that is honest, I suppose.” He continued with another question. “What do you think an office assistant does?” Lina thought very hard. “I think… I help people carry boxes? Or give them pens when they lose them? Or tell them they are doing a great job when they look sad?” The manager laughed softly. “That is… actually not wrong. But you also need to answer phone calls, organize documents, and send emails.” Lina nodded. “Yes, yes. Easy. I talk on the phone every day. Sometimes I call my cat from another room. She never answers, but I am very patient.” The manager tried not to laugh too loudly. “Well… patience is good,” he said. Then he asked, “Can you use a computer?” “Oh yes!” Lina said proudly. “I know how to turn it on. And I can make the letters big. And I can play a farm game with cows.” He sighed. “Do you know how to write emails?” Lina froze. She did not know. But she did not want to lie. “No… but I can learn. I learn fast. I learned how to whistle in only three weeks!” The manager looked at her carefully. She was silly, yes. But she was also honest, cheerful, and willing to work. He thought maybe she could be good with practice. “Hm…” he said. “Lina, I think you need some training. But I also think you have a good heart. And sometimes, that is important in an office. So… we will give you a chance. You can start next Monday.” Lina gasped. “I CAN WORK HERE? I CAN BUY COOKIES? I MEAN— I CAN HELP THE COMPANY?!” The manager laughed. “Yes. You can help the company.” When Lina left the office, she did a little happy dance on the sidewalk. She was so excited. She felt proud. Even though she was silly sometimes, she had something special: she never gave up, and she always tried her best. And that is how Lina, the girl with the duck skirt and the big smile, got her first job.