Interesting job search development

So over the weekend, I saw this ad on the Provo craigslist for a pizza delivery position, and decided to walk in on Monday and ask about it.  But I didn’t want to make the trip without doing some other errands, too.

I happened to have a complete set of The Chronicles of Narnia that I’d bought from my sister over the summer.  Knowing that I probably wouldn’t read them before my next move, I figured it would be best to trade them in for credit at Pioneer Book.

A little bit about Pioneer Book: it is the awesomest used bookstore in Utah Valley.  While I was in college, I used to go there at least three or four times a semester, often with friends.  Half the books I owned before I left for DC came from there, and even now, I find myself going back often.  Great place.

So I went to Cougar Creations, printed up a few copies of my resume (one for the pizza place, a couple others just to have on hand), and went downtown.  Unfortunately, the pizza place was closed, so I decided to come back later and run up to Pioneer Books instead.

I walked in, put The Chronicles of Narnia on the desk, and asked the cashier what they’d take for it.  She asked for me to hold on while she got her manager.

All of a sudden, I realized that this was my perfect in to ask if they had any job positions opening up soon.  I’d already planned to ask (since hey, it doesn’t hurt), but I hadn’t expected to talk with the manager.

Well, it turns out that I recognized the manager from when I’d come with my brother in law over Christmas break.  We chatted a bit, I asked if there were any positions opening in the next couple months, and he said that there might be, so I should probably come back and drop off a resume.

Guess what I happened to have in my jacket pocket?

Man, Pioneer Book would be an awesome place to work.  It’s a bookish job, with bookish people, in a city full of college students, working with books…man, if I could make enough money,  I might even postpone teaching English in Asia.

Most of the employees are students, so when April comes around and most of the students go home, some positions might very well open up.  And hopefully, I was able to leave a professional enough impression that they’ll call me back.  Wish me luck!