Donal Mahoney- A Poem

An Urban Tale: First Job Interview

Let’s check the terminal and see 

what jobs might be available 

to match your skill set,

the interviewer said. 

The young man

sitting next to the desk

was wearing a plaid shirt 

and his first tie. 

I know you'll take any job 

but let’s see what we can find.

A young man like you, Deon,

just starting out, has his 

entire life ahead of him.

Here’s the personal stuff

you gave me so let’s go over it

and you tell me if I have 

everything right.

Your father left your mother

when you were two and then 

your mother died when 

you were four and your granny 

took you and your brothers in.

But she died in an auto accident 

when you were ten.

An uncle took you after that

and he had trouble finding work.

Food was scarce and you

kept moving place to place.

He tried hard, you said.

An aunt in another city

took your little sister and 

she sounds fine on the phone

when you get a chance to talk.

Your brothers went to foster homes

and you see them now and then.

Things aren't going too well for them.

You graduated from grammar school,

then dropped out of high school 

and went back to get your GED. 

You’re 18 now and have never

worked anywhere before.

You have no car, no driver’s license,

and no record with the police. 

You live deep in the city but 

are willing to work in the suburbs.

Transportation’s not a problem

because your church has 

bus passes for anyone who 

needs them to get to work.

Let’s hope that’s you, Deon.

Bus passes are important because

most jobs you qualify for are 

out in the suburbs, a long trip, 

but our city buses do go there.

From your address I’d say

it will take an hour or more

each way, maybe a little longer

in winter weather with 

the snow plows and all.

Now here's a restaurant chain

with seven outlets in the suburbs

looking for young workers

with a GED and no experience

to wash dishes and bus tables. 

It’s minimum wage but no benefits 

and you'd start on the third shift, 

apply for the second shift when 

an opening occurs, and then apply 

for the first shift after you’ve 

been there at least a year.

Then you'd wait for an opening

on the salad bar and after a year

with the veggies you’d want to 

look for an opening on the grill 

but that’s third shift again.

I’d be happy to set up an interview

but that’s all I have at the moment.

You want me to call now, Deon?

Or do you want to sleep on it.

This is America. It’s your choice.

 

 

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Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.