The Insignificant Job Interview That Changed My Life.

Claudia Montiel

Mrs. A.R. Mc Math

RHT 101 032

September 11, 2013

The Insignificant Job Interview that Changed my Life

Not many people that you know would agree that being a cashier at McDonalds is a dream job. For me, it was. In 1994, I was an immigrant from Mexico City who did not complete High School. I was a teenaged mom who, at this point was far from reaching the American Dream. I was working in a sewing workshop. I was ironing in the same spot for 10 hours a day, and without air conditioning or ventilation. I was working there for about 1 year, 57 hours a week for $4.25 an hour. Since I came to this country, I knew that learning English would open opportunities for a better job.

Obviously, I need another job which would give me the chance to grow up and not give me the feeling that I was a slave. Like any other regular costumer, I used to bring my 3 year daughter to play in the playground at McDonalds. While my daughter was playing I used to think “Hey this is the job that I need.” A fun ambience, an easy task, why not? I remember that I went to the front counter and I asked in Spanish for a job application, the cashier responded very rude “If you do not speak English you cannot work in here.” That completely broke my heart, but not my plan to work there. I had my plan. I was determinate to work there. I even had dreams about it.! My mind started to make a plan. I asked to myself, what can I do to get hired? I could not wait until I learned how to speak English. By the time that I spent trying to find a way to get hired, a week had passed. It was a Sunday morning that would change my life forever.

My husband and I went to eat our breakfast like any other Sunday. I remember it like it was yesterday. I sat at the front of the counter and I observed. I was practically hunting down the General Manager. I noticed who the General Manager was because she was leading the employees. She was a middle-aged white woman tall and slim, with a sweet expression...