My husband has a job interview today. Coincidentally, the topic of the day on WordPress.com involves writing about a memorable job interview. Because I freelance, I have had very few formal interviews. Most of my work since the dawning of the Information Age has come via electronic media. I apply for, have been hired for, and perform work for companies whose employees I’ve never formally met. I have forged many, many work relationships, but have never seen a huge majority of these people in the flesh,  nor have I spoken to most of them over the phone. I have no idea what their voices are like, what style of clothing they wear, what their races or nationalities are. I don’t know if they’re young or old, tall or short, blond or brunet, heavy or skinny. I am a virtual employee working for virtual employers.

However, being in my late forties and having gone through college and post-college job hunting when the only object whose exterior was large and white with big black spots was a Holstein and not a Gateway PC, I do have some experience interviewing. One interview that stands out was not for a particularly flashy job, but rather one I acquired by my own true grit.

I was only about a year out of college and working a couple jobs that didn’t quite match my area of study or ability. While in a bank one day, I picked up a local community newspaper and was shocked to read what was there: No, not the content (although that was bad, too), but poor grammar, unitelligible syntax, misplaced modifiers, misspelled words (yes, this was pre-spell check, too), and a myriad of other errors. I became brave at that moment, took the paper home, and with a red pen made corrections all over that issue. I then sent a letter to the publisher and owner, telling her what I had found and offering my services as a proofreader and copy editor to help improve the readability, accuracy, and reputation (for God’s sake, didn’t she care?), of her paper.

She agreed to meet with me–in a bedroom of her home that served as the newspaper’s office (the New York Times it was not)–and I presented her with my red-inked copy of that week’s issue. It was then and there that she knew as well as I did that I was the missing link to tie that paper together.

I am proud to say that I was able to create a job for myself where need be. It’s an accomplishment I’m still proud of to this day. I know that once my husband’s interviewer realizes what he can do, he too will offer his hand and open up a spot at the office. It’s possible, virtually anywhere.