Baking the truth (Kerry)

“snagged interview @ dish 5 min walk from quay cant believe my luck on ferry now,” Julie twittered gaily. The ferry slipped through the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour. Julie leaned over the side of the boat and began to psych herself up for the interview.

“feeling optimistic putting old life behind me no more centrelink queues need this one to pay for scooter.” Julie wanted to let her friends know how excited she was. This day held the possibility of a breakthrough. She walked quickly along the jetty as soon as the ferry docked and headed straight round to Dish.

“passing os terminal reminds me of going os myself just need the money lets see what I can do here to impress entering dish now.” Her heart was in her mouth but she planted a smile on her face and sallied forth.

“Hi. I’m Julie King. I’m here for the interview.” She introduced herself to the receptionist.

She was waved to a bench seat against the wall.

Julie got out her phone and scrambled a quick message.

“in the lion’s den waiting for brian this place is awesome smell the olives already & freshly baked bread.” She put her phone away.

“Julie. Good morning. Please come through.” A stooped, bespectacled man had opened the door beside Julie and beckoned her into his office. He motioned to her to sit down.

Brian settled himself in the chair opposite and smiled. She noted his slightly nonchalant appearance, bordering on the dishevelled, and reckoned she had a pushover here.

This guy’s no match for my interview skills, she chuckled to herself.

However, Brian’s opening question threw her completely.

“I see you’ve had extensive Cordon Bleu training, Julie. What was the most important lesson you learned there?”

It seemed like a simple question but the fact was Julie had only been to Cordon Bleu for a weekend workshop in pastry cooking. Surely she hadn’t exaggerated that on her resume. She was thrown for a few seconds while her mind raced.

“I would say I learned the importance of creativity in the kitchen,” she began boldly. “It’s possible for anyone to learn the techniques but it takes a special flair to go beyond the ordinary.”

Brian was pleased. His eyes had brightened. He sat up straight in his chair and pondered his next question while he shuffled the papers on the desk.

“And your time at La Scandala in Madrid? How did you deal with maintaining discipline in the kitchen?” he asked.

Julie froze. She’d never been to La Scandala. It was not for the want of trying. She’d applied for positions there several times. Had she written this resume in her dreams? This was obviously why she’d got the interview; anyone with La Scandala experience would be snapped up for sure.

The awful truth dawned on her.

He’s got someone else’s resume, she thought to herself. I can’t blow this. I’ve got to go along with it.

“That’s a very interesting question.”

She played for time.

“I found that the best way to maintain discipline was to allocate clear responsibilities for each member of staff so there was no culture of blame. We had weekly staff meetings as well to air any dissatisfaction. Communication was a high priority.”

Brian nodded. “Very interesting approach.”

The tension was taking its toll. Julie was perspiring profusely. She fidgeted in her chair.

“Would you please excuse me? I’m feeling a little nauseous,” she mumbled, and slipped out the door. The ladies’ was down the passage. Julie sat down heavily on the loo and got out her phone.

“feel sick can’t do this brian thinks i’m someone else it’s not my cv help me someone.”

A response came straightaway.

“you’ve got to tell him he’ll understand show him yr beautiful qualities be brave.”

What a relief. She could never make it work if Brian had hired her thinking she was someone else.

She walked quickly back into his office.