Dress for the job you want to have

“Clickety-clack,” my white ankle strap high heels were sure to alert everyone I was coming. I trudged up the hill to the entrance of the Daily American Republic newspaper office as gracefully as I could in my lavender skirt suit. I was determined to present myself as a professional. After all, I was going to be the best mailroom girl they had ever seen!

I was certain I could hand out mail with the best of them, and straight out of high school, landing an office position, well look out this girl was on fire. I was already on my way to the top! Or so I thought, as I climbed the stairs at the front entrance, smiling so hard I could feel my lips quiver.

“I am here for the mailroom interview,” I said, softly. “Oh, well you should be downstairs honey, let me call him for you,” said Ms. Marilyn the front receptionist.

“Are you sure you’re here for the mailroom?” she said seemingly puzzled.

Within just a couple of minutes, a man came from the downstairs area to greet me. “It’s very nice to meet you, but I don’t think this is the job you were applying for,” he said quickly.

Wait, what, what job did I apply for, I thought I was handing out mail in the mailroom.

“Yes, yes sir it is, whatever job you have available is the job I was applying for,” I quickly responded.

He just gave me a doubtful shrug and took me downstairs to give me the full tour. The printing press was loud, the paper at this time was still printed here at the Poplar Bluff office.

It was hot and the line was moving fast.

“Do you still want the job,” he said.

“Yes sir, I will come dressed, um, different tomorrow,” I said laughingly.

The next day I worked downstairs doing inserts. I got to see the press run and the hard work that was put in by literally everyone involved. But my time in the mailroom would be brief. The very next day I was told a position upstairs had just opened up and if I wanted it, it was mine.

Of course I wanted it. I mean I was uptown now. This was my first “real job.” I felt like I had just been handed the world.

I quickly accepted the position in circulation, where I would remain for a year before bouncing around in several other office roles and finally landing in a position writing for the Puxico Press, which had at that time just been purchased as a sister paper. I loved that position, but after a few years, I decided to go to college and have children.

That was 20 years ago and when I walk back into the DAR today, somehow it still feels like home to me. Most of the faces have changed, but have been replaced with equally kind and driven people who I am certain I will call my friends.

I met some of the absolute best people ever at the DAR and even though we don’t speak every day or even every week, we keep up with each other and we have a true bond.

I dressed for the job I wanted, not the job I applied for, but it was a serendipitous mistake. Here I am some 20 years later, right back where I started, but honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it.

My name is on the wallboard now and I have my own little light, I’m going to let it shine!

Misty DeJournett is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic and can be reached at mdejournett.dar@gmail.com.