The Call

I woke up one sunny morning and proceeded with my daily, unemployed routine. Brushed my teeth, washed my face, and hoped to find some type of breakfast in my impeccably white and empty refrigerator. At this point I didn’t have many groceries in my apartment because I was being very strategic with my funds, but a bowl of Frosted Flakes with a little added sugar (a must) was always a favorite. I sat on the couch in the living room with the sun beaming in through the patio door, feeling pretty good this morning for some reason. In the past couple months I’d been very restless just because I wasn’t able to sleep at night. I’d get in bed at a reasonable time and just lay there staring at the ceiling hoping that sleep would fall upon me sooner than later. It was usually later, so my mind would wonder into everything from that day. This holistically felt like nothing…what jobs I applied to, what rejection emails I’d gotten, hoping someone would book another shoot so I could have a tad more comfort in my back pocket. It was almost as if once my mind finally finished this NASCAR type race of going in circles that I would eventually run out of gas and fall asleep. That sleep didn’t last long though because with first light I felt like I had to be up making moves or else I’d miss an opportunity. This morning though was different because I felt a little more energized than usual. I remember sitting on the couch with my legs crossed, green blanket (the same one that Bea Bea used to cover me with) covering my lap and my laptop open. Indeed and LinkedIn were bookmarked in my browser by this point and were both open in their constantly refreshing tabs. Before I could even delve into the endless pit of jobs that almost seemed to be mocking at this point, I received a call from an unknown number with a (404) area code. I immediately cleared my throat to try to make it seem like I didn’t just wake up thirty minutes ago. That phone call was the beginning to a day that I will never forget. 

It was a hiring manager from Xfinity calling to ask me if I was still interested in a sales position. Just the week before, I’d been to the local store with my folder of resumes and asked to speak with the manager. I guess I’d said something to catch her attention! She gave me specific details on the job and we setup an interview in the following weeks. I remember getting off the phone with her and literally jumping around that 560sqft apartment like it was a playground! The amount of excitement was something I hadn’t experienced since I moved to Atlanta (& I shook Spike Lee’s hand at an event one night). I just remember thinking, how clutch is it not only to potentially have a job, but also a job that would give me a discount on my internet every month! Before the endorphins even had time to settle, my phone started ringing again. A different number but it was still from an unknown caller. I answer trying to disguise the amount of excitement that I was just letting out. This time it was a hiring manager from AT&T. I had applied for a business to business sales position with them maybe a month ago, and now I was getting a call from a manager literally thirty minutes after hanging up with Xfinity. I honestly didn’t fully understand the full scope of the position, but I did hear what the potential starting salary was and that it did have benefits! At this point I’m smiling so hard my face is hurting! That’s two calls from two companies that I knew I’d have the ability to move up and around in. I just needed to get my foot in the door. By now, it’s time for lunch and after all the excitement and cartwheels I was starving.

I decided to treat myself to a good lunch because of the great news! That lunch was a four piece chicken tender meal with waffle fries, two ranch sauces, two buffalo sauces, and a lemonade from the Chick-fil-a down the street! After lunch, instead of applying for jobs like I’d intended to do with the day, I figured I should start doing research on the two companies. I’d been waiting on a phone call since November, and now in January I’d finally gotten two. There was no way I would let either of these opportunities fall through. I pulled out my orange leather notepad that was a parting gift from my amazing friends at Alumni Affairs at UT and started to study. Finding founders, locations, potential colleagues on LinkedIn, and everything else that could possibly shove me through the door with one of these companies. Then THE call happened. 

Seeing that it was still winter, daylight was in short supply. I was still sitting on my couch studying these companies like a final exam for entry level and frontline positions. I’ve always strived to be MY best no matter what I’ve done, so the position title didn’t matter to me, just the opportunity. Periodically, as my eyes started to hurt from staring at the small letters on my screen I’d look out my patio door to the beginning of a beautiful sunset. It was probably around five p.m. eastern time and this was the first time I was excited to lay down after a “workday” because I felt as if I’d finally accomplished something. Again, my phone started ringing and I figured it was my mom calling to send me all the great praises from a day of productive phone calls from potential jobs seeing that this was around the time she was getting off work. I’d called her after every phone call, but I knew her being a teacher she didn’t have much time to get away from her lessons and I had enough patience to wait for enough time to give her the full rundown. I realized it wasn’t her though, and it was a number that had an area code according to my iPhone as “Harrison, Arkansas.” I just knew this was one of those, “You’ve won a free cruise!” calls but with all the amazing news I’d gotten over the phone that day I instantly picked up. 

On the other side of the phone sounded like a man who was 6’5, 250lbs with a deep late night radio voice. His voice had a sense of ease to it though, like I could almost hear him smiling. He introduced himself and told me he was the hiring manager for the Learning & Development team at a company that I’ve always seen as mythical…a company that I’ve had a front row view of my entire life on the streets and in the air of Memphis. I literally thought I was talking to Oz. Before I could even fully introduce myself, I hear this ringing going off in the background of whatever magical place he was in. He said, “Sorry the fire alarm just went off, I’ll call you back.” We got off the phone and with my mind racing in directions I didn’t even think existed, I waited probably the longest five minutes of my life. He called back just as he said he would and apologized for the interruption. He began to tell me about this amazing position as a multimedia specialist that involved video, photography, graphic design, and even travel. He asked me if that was something I’d be interested in and laughing in my head I forced myself to say “It sure is,” instead of begging this man to let me have this dream job he was describing. The phone call ended with us setting up an actual phone interview. A interview in which he asked me to put together a piece of work that in short form could show my skills. I said yes sir and thank you for calling and immediately got to working on portfolio pieces. 

I worked three days straight using software that I’d used maybe once or twice before, but I heard the mystery man mention programs like After Effects and Adobe Flash…things of that sort. I was primarily a photographer, dabbled in graphic design, and had recently learned a lot in Atlanta about video, but I’d never say that I was anywhere near a professional at any of these crafts (& I still don’t). My mother told me that no matter my state or experience with a skill to always work like I’m still a rookie. That mindset has kept me hungry in every endeavor. However, like never before this wasn’t just a job… This was a career and I couldn’t let this pass me by. If I didn’t get chosen for this position I knew it would be because someone else was better than me, but not because I didn’t give it my all. I put together to the best of my abilities a video that showcased my photography, video skills, and the new found struggle of using After Effects… a video that simply introduced me, B.J. Crawford, to this mystery man behind the phone. The day of the interview I remember being in Knoxville visiting my girlfriend, hoping that she could help me relax before what I thought was the biggest day of my life. It was a phone interview, but I was dressed in a full suit with tie. My favorite blue suit with my orange tie that resembled my weird love for UT. I was sitting at the small desk in my girlfriends bedroom in UHeights while she was away in class. I had my orange leather UT notebook next to me that had company timelines, founders, important dates, and everything that I thought should go on a cheat sheet. Literally minutes before the call was to start, I remember staring into my computer. One of those stares where you lose what’s actually being displayed on the screen and you begin to see your reflection. I saw myself sitting at this desk wearing the same suit I wore to graduation, in my girlfriends apartment that just so happened to be the same apartments I’d just moved out of to take on a new journey in Atlanta. It felt like… a dream. At that moment I felt all the fear leave and realized that I’d done my absolute best to prepare for this moment. I’d had the internships, the education, the skills, and the relationships to help me prepare for this day. I told myself that no matter the outcome of the interview that I was simply proud of myself for not giving up on B.J. 

To be continued…

Live with LOVE

B.J. Crawford