Garrett
helped set up the eight-foot folding table they purchased with the company card
at Walmart, and then Keith, the manager, erected the easels and foam boards, prominently displaying their company
name, logo, and classy pictures of guests enjoying themselves on the property—a hotel with plentiful amenities and a small, outdoor water park.
Garrett and Olivia, the two reliable members of Keith's front desk staff,
arrayed brochures and applications on the table.
Keith
reached into the banker's box with the supplies for the day and pulled out
three pairs of dog-ear headbands. "Ha, here you go, guys. We're gonna wear
these today." Keith put his on first. His dim smile endured even as he saw the flash
of embarrassment streak across Garrett and Olivia's faces. "C'mon, it'll just be
for fun, guys." Garrett and Olivia complied, timidly leaning toward Keith's wrung-out enthusiasm.
They
took their seats at the table, and Keith stood by an easel to the right. The team all wore the red company polos. After only a few minutes'
standing and waiting, Keith, in his late 40s, average height and reasonably
fit, began shifting his weight from left to right and rocking back and forth
from his toes to his heels. He lacked the self-awareness to see that this
feeble pursuit of comfort made him appear restless, which would, in turn, make
other people nervous.
Today
was the day of the job fair, and this local leisure and hospitality business
was accepting applications.
