Employed

I had so many conflicting emotions after the interview.  It went so horribly I started thinking I didn't want the job.  It seemed like a sign that this was not the right thing to do.  If there were this many obstacles just to get the job, then maybe I wasn't meant to do IVF right now.  I had decided I didn't want the job as it just wasn't meant to be.

Charlie, the manager, said he would call in a day or two to let me know about the job.  I'm glad it took a couple of days because it gave me time to come to my senses.  I decided I needed to go for it.  If it's terrible, I can quit!  I had an entire spiel planned out if he didn't offer me the job about how he should give me a second chance because I wanted this job and the interview wasn't a fair representation of myself.  Thankfully, all I had to do was accept :)

Another hiccup in the process was my background check.  I submitted it and after a few days hadn't heard back from Charlie.  When I texted him about it he said I didn't pass so I couldn't move forward.  I freaked out a little because the only thing that could possibly come up on a background check was that I had gotten a parking ticket a few weeks before...but I paid it that day!  Plus I didn't figure that would show up anyways.  Long story short, he had me mixed up with another applicant and everything was okay.  Whew!

I became an official Starbucks partner January 27, 2018!  Woo Hoo!!

The Worst Interview in the World

Okay, I know I said this blog would be all about IVF but I'm making an exception for this story.  It's a part of the journey I couldn't forget, even if I wanted to.  I promise everything I'm about to write is totally true even if I can't even believe it's true because it's so unbelievable.  Now that I've talked it up enough...

So my interview was scheduled for 10:30.  I left my house in plenty of time but I realized shortly after I left that I forgot my phone at home.  I decided I didn't have time to go back and it's not like I needed my phone for anything anyways.  I got there around 10:25 and started walking in (to be early is to be on time!).  As I'm crossing the parking lot I see a familiar car out front.  OH CRAP.  It's my boss's car.  Maybe it isn't though.  There's really no reason for him to be at this Starbucks because it's not close to either of our offices.  I walk around to the front of the car and look in the front window and sure enough, I see his dog accessories in the back seat.  He is definitely inside the Starbucks.

I start freaking out.  I mean stuff like this only happens in movies right?  You show up to an interview and your current boss, who obviously doesn't know you're interviewing for a new job, is randomly in this specific place at this specific time.  And while I wasn't planning on leaving Foot & Ankle for Starbucks, I didn't want to have to explain what all was happening.

Time is ticking by and I just keep willing him with my mind to walk out of the store so I can walk in, say a friendly hello, and he'll never be any the wiser.  It doesn't happen.  I don't have my phone so I can't call Nate for advice.  I can't call the manager and fake car problems making me late to the interview or a car accident making me have to reschedule all together.  The only thing I can do is hope the doc almost has his coffee and will walk out as I walk in.

Sadly, that was not the case.

I walk into the store and not only is he in there, he's sitting at a table having a meeting with the office manager and billing manager!  They are definitely not leaving anytime soon.  I'm freaking out times a million.

I say hello to them and walk to the counter and say "Hey, I'm here to see Charlie."  They tell me to have a seat at a table and wait for him.  The only open table is two over from their meeting, and Starbucks tables are tiny.  There's no more than 12 feet between us.  I think to myself "what are the odds that I'm sitting here for an interview mere feet from my current bosses and they can hear the entire thing?!"

I decided it would be better to just go tell them the truth while I was waiting for the manager to start the interview.  I walked over to their table but it was just the office managers as the doc had stepped away for a phone call.  I'm like "heyyyyyy....sooooo I'm here for an interview..." ...awkward....

Their faces showed a little bit of shock.  I followed quickly with "I'm not planning on leaving you guys, this is just a part-time thing for the insurance."  They were super understanding and I felt a little not as awkward.  A little.

Well Charlie finally comes out and decides to bring me to the back of the store for the interview.  The same back of the store where the doctor is still on a phone call.  He sits me down not 5 feet from the doctor (with my back to him) and starts the interview!  I wanted to DIE!!!  His first question... "So I see you work at Food & Ankle Associates?"  I'm like "yessssss" super awkwardly because I can feel the docs eyes boring into the back of my head, wondering what the HECK I'm doing in an interview at Starbucks of all places.

I could just feel the doc listening to everything I was saying.  I was trying to talk quiet.  I couldn't think straight.  None of my answers seemed coherent.  I had not just the interviewers analyzing everything I'm saying, but him too!  I wish I could convey how terrible of an experience this was.  It was like an out of body experience.  Thankfully, after a few minutes he finally went back to his meeting where I'm sure the managers filled him in on what was going on.  I was still so shook and did not feel like myself at all during the interview.

After he left, I did tell the interviewers who he was but I wasn't sure if they totally grasped how awkward the situation was.  It was so bad.

At the end of the interview I gathered my things, walked straight past them, said goodbye and exited.  The entire ride home I talked to myself saying "WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?!  IS MY LIFE A MOVIE?!  DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN IN MOVIES?!  HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ME?!  WHAT IS MY LIFE?!"  I hated not being able to call Nate!  Definitely the worst interview experience in the world.

An Unlikely Solution

November 2017 changed our lives.  I recently joined a facebook group, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and came across this interesting article that they posted.

In case you don't want to read any more than you have to, I'll let you know what it says.  Starbucks insurance covers IVF!  Not only that, but you can get insurance through Starbucks as only a part-time barista!!

What does this mean?  This means I'm getting a job at Starbucks!  I read the article while on my lunch at work and immediately sent Nate a text telling him I was going to turn in a resume the next day.  It was an answer to a prayer.

I started researching how to get a job at Starbucks and totally psyched myself out.  Now, I'm sure most of what I read had to do with getting a job other than as a barista (like if you were interviewing at headquarters or something), but still.  I knew that if I got an interview I couldn't blow it because this was my one chance to have IVF paid for.

The other small detail I have yet to mention is I don't drink coffee.  How am I supposed to interview at a coffee shop and tell them I won't drink 98% of their product??  How do I talk about what I love about Starbucks when I have literally NEVER ordered a drink from them.  I think I've ordered a chocolate croissant twice...

Well it took until January for me to finally get up the courage to submit a resume.  I was teaching for VIPKID and had a no-show student.  Instead of browsing facebook, I got online and put in an application to two local Starbucks.  Then I went back downstairs and fell asleep for a few hours.

When I woke up around 10:30 I had a missed call and message asking if I could come in for an interview!  WHAT!?!?!  I was not expecting that to happen so quickly.  This was a Saturday and I scheduled an interview for Monday.


As an important side note: Anyone considering this option should go join the facebook group Starbucks IVF Mommas.  It has sooo much information on there and is such an inspiring place to see stories of women who have done this and it worked.