03.07.01
I strongly suspect that Michal will not be joining our happy salon crew anytime soon. I base this on my keen critical thinking skills, and the following information:
Michal expressed extreme interest in joining our staff before ever visiting the salon. She liked Carol so much during their interactions at Sally Beauty Supply (Where Michal works) that she wanted to sign on then and there. I find this highly suspect because I interact with Carol on a near-daily basis and find myself frequently not wanting to work in our salon as a result.
Michal also told Carol that she wanted to do artificial nails and manicures at our salon. Because of this, Carol got a manicurist table and nail supplies so Michal could do nails once she started. She also started telling all of her clients that we would have a nail tech in mid-March.
Michal signed up to be mentored by Carol and to get beauty school credits for helping out in the salon. The one time she actually came in to "work" she sat on her ass behind the desk for 4 hours, answered the phones and then deferred all calls to us, and sassed everyone as though that was her job. She did not fold towels, shampoo hair, or tear foils like it was suggested that she do. The next time she was supposed to come in, she told me at a party that she wasn't coming in because she had school hours to make up. I told her to call Carol and tell her because she was the one in charge. She did not call, nor did she show up. The next day, which was a school day, Carol ran into her at the mall during what appeared to be an all-day shopping extravaganza.
Michal stopped in to the salon at some point to introduce her roommate to Carol. At that time, she informed Carol that Cost Cutters was hiring for $9/hour. Until this point, Carol was fairly certain that she'd hired Michal to work in our salon once she graduated from beauty school in the beginning of March.
Michal then disappeared off the face of the planet for about a month, which prompted Carol to call her and make sure she was still alive. She claimed that she was busy with school and didn't have time to come in. Carol inquired as to whether she was still interested in working in our salon, and she said she wanted to talk to Carol in person about it.
Michal came in to the salon and told us both that she really wanted to work for Younkers, but didn't want to just do nails -- she wanted to do hair and waxing and other fun stuff. She was told that she would be doing all of that too, if she took the job. She also reiterated the part about Cost Cutters paying $9/hour. She then made a list of demands for the hours she would work, most of which directly conflicted with the hours that Carol had already told he she would have to work. (We are closed Sundays and Tuesday nights because no one is available to work them -- Michal was told from the beginning that she would have to work those times. She agreed.)
Apparently, Michal is interested in the quick earning of cash. Cost Cutters does offer a decent starting wage, a sign-on bonus, $50/month towards student loan repayment, benefits and the like. We, however, offer a decent (if slightly lower) starting wage, a sign-on bonus, really inexpensive and excellent benefits, vacation/holiday/personal days, a nice store discount, and the added benefit of not having to actually work at Cost Cutters, which I think is the best perk of all.
She's still really torn though. A job at a dead-end, crappy place that encourages quantity over quality, or a career at a so-so place that encourages personal growth and experience, as well as offering the opportunity for advancement. That's pretty much the reason that I don't quit despite my daily interactions of an irritating nature with you-know-who.
I'm pretty much guessing that by the Friday deadline that Carol has imposed on Michal to make a decision, Cost Cutters will be welcoming a new employee into their fold.
Which irritates me because I need another body in the salon in order to take daytime classes so that I can graduate someday. I think I've maxed out on all of the nighttime classes in my degree field. I might have to take Performance Art or something equally distasteful just so I can get the hell out of Iowa.
Oh, and it makes Carol fun to be around when she's feeling all betrayed and let down. Let me tell you!
