The Jigsaw Interviews
by Doctor Asparagus
It is a hot Thursday in August.
It's also 10.45am, and I am on my way to a day of interviews, with a company who are offering potential funding for new business start-ups.
Having travelled into the city by train, it's a short walk to 'Jigsaw Ltd -
piecing business together.'
Headquartered in a modern 15 storey building, that clearly said 'success.' An expensive facade, with water features and precisely manicured lawns to the front and sides. As if the name wasn't catchy enough, a huge gold and silver jigsaw piece, took centre stage, on the front of the building. It was fixed to the wall, just above the double height entrance and I had no doubt it would be illuminated in the evenings and look fabulous.
It all felt a little daunting, as the lawns passed me by on both sides, on my journey down the wide neatly brick weaved pathway, into the lions' mouth. I had some great ideas for my one-man business but, could certainly use a cash boost.
I meet the lovely Neve, as we both approach the building. We just have time for the briefest of introductions, before entering the enormous steel and glass revolving doors that announce us into the expansive reception foyer.
She is small, curvy, attractive and chatty. The kind of chatty that makes you marvel at how easy, the conversation flows between you and leaves you wondering how it is, that you have never actually met before. But then, it is a big old world! Her mane of long chestnut coloured hair, flows out behind her in the warm summer breeze.
THE SETUP
At exactly the right time, we both sign in at the front desk. A young, immaculately dressed blonde, with short pixie cropped hair, smiles confidently up at us. Her badge reveals to us unashamedly, that her name is Dominique. She directs us to a seated waiting area, deeper in the building. Despite the fact, there are many seats in there, most of them seem to have already been taken. I would estimate there must be around a hundred or so delegates already here. All more than a little anxious, I would think.
I know I was.
We quickly find a small group of chairs that have not, yet got any bottoms pressed into them, and sit down together. Still chatting.
We look around, and Neve spots someone familiar, seated at a nearby table. As is often the case in these bizarre scenarios, he looks up at just that moment and meets her eyes, almost as if an invisible spiritual advisor, has just whispered the suggestion to him in his ear. She gives a friendly wave and mouths the word 'Hi.' He obviously finds it a pleasant exchange, as he stands up and begins meandering his way through the delegates to reach us. She explains that they were workmates at a previous company. He arrives and she does the introductions. Apparently, his name is Phil. He sits down next to her.
The conversation continues to flow easily between the three of us, with Phil telling us how he has been made redundant and is now looking for a new direction. He's a pleasant guy, a little older than me.
Everyone is dressed in smart casuals, for these informal assessments. Phil is sporting navy jeans and a light green T shirt. For me, it's a pair of denim shorts and a black Polo top. Neve has also gone with shorts. Hers are light cotton, in summer blue, baggy on the legs, but beautifully taut across her rear, with an off the shoulder cream fitted top. It's a beautiful sunny afternoon, and I suddenly become aware that she has not bothered to wear a bra. As she twists in her chair to face Phil for a second, I can see two very erect nipples, pointing straight at him. I steal a quick glance at his face, which is animated in his story telling. He hasn't even noticed that he is directly in her firing line.
We have yet to be enlightened about the finer details of the day, but we do understand that we will be attending a series of interviews with Jigsaw representatives, who are specialised in various departments, like Finance, Human Resources, Logistics and Property Development, to assess our eligibility for the funding.
We are told that the interviews are being held on floor 15. In order to better manage the number of delegates, we will be asked to go up there in smaller groups. The first group of around 20 or so people, are shown to the elevators, in the main lobby. We learn that there is also a coffee lounge on level 15 and that we can relax in there, until we are called in.
So, we carry on talking about our various plans and schemes. It's very hot outside, but the air conditioning in the building is being very efficient and doing a wonderful job of keeping the three of us, and Neve's nipples nice and cool. Time passes by easily.
We are finally included in the next group, and we head up to the cafe. Neve and Phil order latte's, whilst I opt for a chilled Apple juice, having noticed that the Chardonnay family are not on offer!
As we settle into our drinks, an assistant comes into the lounge and begins handing out paperwork to the delegates. There is an agenda for the day ahead, and quite a few questionnaires for each of us to fill out. We quickly speed read them and are surprised to find the day also contains a medical examination.
After 30 or so minutes, we finally get called through..... here we go! The three of us spend the whole afternoon together, moving in and out of different rooms, undertaking the numerous interviews, filling out the endless required forms, but always meeting up again afterwards, to continue chatting about our respective new business ideas, and life in general.
More time drifts by, and we are almost done with the departmental interviews. Phil is in his last one now. Lots of delegates have completed their day and left. It's now time for us, to head to floor 9, for the medical tests. Neve and I are shown into Room 42, along with 4 other delegates, to await being called.
The room is laid out as a break-out area, with clusters of seating for small groups of people. Each cluster comprising of two comfy black settees facing each other over a low level smoked-glass coffee table. There are 6 of these in the room. We find a spare cluster and sit down on a settee, facing each other. The other group of 4 delegates are sitting several clusters away, currently engaged in their own demons, no doubt trying to sort themselves out for the medicals.