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When I interviewed for my 2nd out of college job (circa 2000), I happened to interview on a day where the folks I was interviewing with had a conference, so they were dressed up. My start date was delayed for some bureaucratic reason.

Not knowing what the dress code was, I showed up my first day in a suit, and headed up to the office, which had been moved the week prior. I'm wandering around looking for my boss, when the Commissioner's secretary (this is a .gov gig) spots me, and thinks I'm a salesman as they had an issue with salespeople crashing the place. Nobody can find my boss, and five minutes later, two policeman show up and escort me out of the building. Thankfully my boss was a smoker, and rescued me as the cops were kicking me out! :)

The particular division I was in had a pretty eclectic collection of dressers. The bigshots wore suits or sportsjackets, and most people did the business casual thing. Then there were the... others. One dude did leather pants and a massive cowboy hat, there was a male and female tracksuit contingent, and a few people wearing sweatpants of all things.



I showed up my first day in a suit ... and thinks I'm a salesman as they had an issue with salespeople crashing the place.

If I see someone with a suit, clipboard and lanyard, I run the other way. Especially if they have good hair.


That's hilarious, because minus the good hair, that was me.

I had a packet of crap from HR, some goofy lanyard with a visitor badge and of course the suit! :)


Oh man, and I bet you were really eager looking to! Kept looking at everyone who came your way with an expectant smile? I would totally have mistaken you for a sales person.


On my first day, I was mistaken for one of the 30+ students arriving for interviews for summer research positions.

One of the students was late, the busy receptionist assumed it was me, and rushed me to the student interview room.

Meanwhile, my manager is at reception, on time, wondering where I am, and who the stressed-looking 19 year old is.


> Nobody can find my boss, and five minutes later, two policeman show up and escort me out of the building

They didn't bother to check on the whole "I'm here to start work, my boss is <T>" ?


Maybe they said: "yeah, right; the two people before you also said they're meeting <T>, except they weren't" and continued to escort him out.

I mean, if I were asked to escort a salesman out of the building, I'd immediately assume that they'll be trying to talk their way into staying, so I'd put my extra assertive face on.


The company was obviously missing a generic handler for <T>.




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