The First Step

In her final year of university Sarah had managed to get into an internship program for the national broadcaster. Upon finishing it, she was recommended by her supervisor for a graduate position in Australia's largest entertainment company the 'Eight Network'. Fortunately, her supervisor was good friends with the recruiter and in conjunction with her distinguished academic record was able to successfully arrive at the interview.

Sarah entered the venue for the interview and was greeted by a hotel staff.

"Miss, are you here for an event or would you like to book a room?"

"I am here for an interview, I was told it is on the eighth floor?"

"Ahh, yes Miss, right this way, you're very lucky to be granted an interview with the Eight Network, my brother always wanted to work there but he wasn't so talented. Now he works in an accounting firm. At least he is making more than I am."

The staff continued to gossip and talk about her life as Sarah was led towards the lift from the lobby. How so many words and topics could be covered in the span of the three to five minutes it took for them to cross the floor and wait for the lift to open would forever remain a mystery to Sarah.

She thanked the girl named Katrina for her time and effort. Sarah then entered the lift and pressed the button for the eighth floor and just as the doors were closing, she heard someone yell

"Wait! Wait!" before squeezing into the gap of the closing doors.

Sarah having heard the yell had quickly pressed the button to keep the doors open and now seeing the girl bend over whilst panting furiously was a little curious.

"Oh, thank you so much. I didn't want to be late. I have an interview to go to, could you help me press the button for the eighth floor please."

The girl looked up and saw that the number eight had already been pressed and yelped in surprise.

"Oh, you also have an interview too? My name is Isabella, I am going for the weather reporter how about you?"

Hearing Isabella's introduction and seeing her offer her hand for a handshake, Sarah felt that this girl was a straightforward, open and honest girl. Although Sarah had not experienced many interviews, she still knew that usually in situations like these, people upon realisation that there was potential competition in the room would act pretentious, be stuck up and generally unapproachable.

However, Isabella was the opposite and instead seemed to genuinely want to make a new friend.

Sarah realised that she had not shaken Isabella's hand smiled self-deprecatingly and apologised before taking her hand.

"Ah, sorry I was a little distracted just then. I'm Sarah and I'm here for the investigative journalist position."

"Ohhh, that's pretty cool, I thought about that position, but my Mum said I shouldn't because my personality doesn't suit the job. Haha, she's usually right and I think weather reporting is a fun job."

Sarah, felt her instincts regarding Isabella's character was pretty much spot on and responded to her overtures in kind.

The two continued to chat amicably and by the time the doors opened for the eighth floor anyone that did not know either of them would assume that they had been best friends for a long time.

As they walked out of the lift, they were greeted by a human resources staff of the Eight Network and was asked to show id to verify their identity. Having satisfied the checks, the two were given a number and told to take a seat to wait for their turn.

The two walked over to the waiting area and was surprised to see that there were only two other people. One was a nervous young man that looked about twenty-two who also had a fresh out of university vibe. The other was an older woman in her mid-thirties sitting there calmly whilst looking at her phone.

Sarah thought that since these positions were incredibly competitive there would be more people here. She had arrived half an hour early, but it appeared that the four of them were the only ones that made it.

Sarah and Isabella shared a puzzled glance and then took a seat by the side of the waiting room and continued chatting about all manners of things from politics, university life as well as little bits of their personal life in order to get to know each other better.

Isabella was first to be called up and her interview took only five minutes. Sarah saw her beaming and smiling widely upon coming out of the interview room and was quickly wrapped in a hug.

"Yay, I got it! Sarah, they said they really liked my profile and felt that I was exactly the person they wanted. They were just waiting to see me in person and hear my voice to confirm whether I was the one. They are all so kind. I am so happy. We need to go out for drinks later together. Hehe."

As Sarah was wrapped and caught up in Isabella's celebrations, she heard her number called out.

Isabella let Sarah go and flashed her a thumbs up and said

"Good luck! I know you won't need it hehe."

Sarah gathered herself and took a deep breath before entering the room.

She saw three people seated behind a table looking through her resume and her responses to the stimulus questions asked during the application. On the left was a woman who looked to be in her early forties with her hair tied up in a bun and had a pair of glasses on, Sarah easily recognised her.

Seeing Sarah enter she got up and walked over to her to introduce herself.

"Hi Sarah, I am Leigh, the head of the investigative journalists at the Eight Network. Just take a seat over there and we can begin whenever you are ready."

Leigh directed Sarah towards the unoccupied seat, before she walked back to the table and took her seat.

The man in the centre, raised his head and greeted her too.

"Thank you for coming Sarah, I am Gavin, the head of HR and this is Mark a director of the company. He is just here for accountability purposes, so you do not need to be too worried about him."

"Is it okay if we begin the interview now?"

"Yes, thank you Leigh."

"Alright, so we have had a look at your resume and your responses. We feel that your resume is impeccable and your responses to the questions show exactly the type of person we are looking for. As you know, our company is experiencing some troubles lately as many of our older and more experienced staff have begun to retire. So, we need someone young and fresh to take up arms and make sure the citizens of Australia can remain informed. We have a proud tradition of taking on jobs that others are unwilling to because of public insouciance, political pressure or because it would be too damaging or embarrassing for certain individuals involved or because of threats to ours lives. So, if you're willing to put your life on the line in the pursuit of the truth then our network would gladly welcome you."

Sarah had seen Leigh on the television many times during her childhood, breaking story after story that changed the lives of many people and in one or two occasions even affected the government of the day. Leigh was one of Sarah's heroes and seeing her in the flesh was a humbling experience and hearing her ask her to join them in their quest for knowledge was an incredibly moving situation for her.

Sarah looked at the three of them and nodded before saying

"If you are willing to have me then I will gladly accept your offer. Thank you so much."

Gavin hearing that she had taken up their offer took out the contract of employment and told her to read it thoroughly and have it sent to the location printed on the front in seven days and then had her dismissed.

Sarah still feeling slightly overwhelmed clutched the contract tightly and thanked them once more before she left the room. Isabella who had waited for Sarah saw her holding the contract and knew she had been accepted.

"Woo, let's go get smashed tonight Sarah."

"Haha, fine but don't blame me when you wakeup with a massive hangover tomorrow."

As the two walked off to celebrate back in the room, Gavin looked towards Mark, who had remained silent throughout the interview and asked

"Is she the one you were looking for?"

Mark nodded once before sighing and asked

"Is the Chief Communications Officer position still available?"

Seeing the look of shock on both Leigh and Gavin's face was all the confirmation he needed as he stood up and left through another door.

Gavin looked back at Leigh and couldn't help but sigh

"Looks like the future isn't going to be easy."