A Detailed Account of a Short Security Career (Part Two)

When we last saw our hero (that's me!) he was ready to work, but the light was coming on and he realized he was being fed empty promises. Empty threats are much more to his liking.

I stood in the lobby of the building on West 37th St, where McSomething worked trying to decide what to do. A man we will call Josh had ridden the elevator with me.  He asked if I thought this company was a scam. I told him that they did everything the contract said they would do but nothing they said. I would let him decide. I told him that if I went through the process and there really was no job, I would at least have my security and Fire Guard licenses.  He gave me his number and asked me to keep in touch with him about my experience.  As we talked, the office manager came into the building and overheard our conversation. She said there was no site and that I would have to apply for a job at one of the three security companies listed on the paper I had in my hand. "Oh, and a tip," she said, "I know Elite is hiring."  I looked on my paper for the address and that company was not even listed.  She told me it was on West 29th St and I headed over there. On the way to their office, I called to see about interviews. The dispatcher told me they were interviewing that morning beginning at 10:00 am.  I needed my documentation and be dressed in business attire.  I thought, "Score one for McSomething!  At least I was dressed appropriately!"  I stopped at Dunkin Donuts on my short walk since it was eight blocks down and two blocks over and I had two hours to kill.

I walked into an office of sorts.  It was a small reception area with four chairs and a plant, a large bullet proof window and two doors. One said "No one is permitted in this door.  No visitors or current employees may enter. Violations will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination."  The other door said, "Do not enter without an employee of Elite Investigations. Violations will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination."  The window was plastered with similar notices.  "Do not park security vehicles on this block from 8a-5p Mon-Fri.  Violations will..." you get the idea. Around 9:30, I and four others were ushered thru the second door and downstairs into a low-ceilinged basement with six large four-sided picnic tables and not much else.  We were handed a packet of papers and told to fill them out. I explained that I had a New Jersey driver's license for identification, but had not yet received my NY state ID or my actual security license. I did have the numbers for both.  I was asked to join Jackie in another, smaller, lower-ceilinged room for an interview.  I was feeling a little like Alice as I appeared to get taller the deeper into the building I went.  The thought crossed my mind that no one knew where I was.

I sat down and we talked. I learned that she was retired from the NYPD. I learned that she was new to Elite.  I learned that there was no site. (This was becoming abundantly clear at this point.)  I learned that Elite was indeed hiring-for a one day project. The New York City Marathon on November 3. Last year's marathon was cancelled because of Superstorm Sandy, and the Boston Marathon had a bombing earlier this year, so security was to be very, very tight.  That's where I would come in.  Elite was looking for 60 people to help out and they would use it as a sort of audition for further assignments.  I was to show up at a predetermined location at 9am on Sunday, November 3.  I, and all the other newly rented cops, sat through orientation and heard the rules.  Basically, we were there to control entrances and exits, assist the New York Police Department with any go-fer activities, and possibly check bags entering the area.  Easy.  And it paid $12 per hour.  9am-6pm minus a half hour lunch would be more money than I'd seen in a minute, but far less than the $17 per hour I was promised by Mc-who?  I have always wanted to go to Central Park on race day, but have never been  able to get up early enough to see the end of the race.  This would change all that. (See: Three Anecdotes of  Raceday)

After the marathon, I was told they would call me if they wanted me to work for them.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday went by before I  gave up.  Saturday, I was in the City around 4 pm when my phone rang.  It was Elite with this exact message:  "Can you be at the office at 9 am Monday?"  I said yes, of course, and we ended the call.  I wasn't sure what to wear, but the business attire warning rung in my head, so I put on my lucky (read: only) suit and arrived at the office just before 9.  The job offer was for Ann Taylor, a new contract for Elite.  Ann Taylor only had security on the weekends with the previous security company, but with the change in companies, and the holidays approaching, they were moving to security seven days a week.  We went over the rules.  No touching customers.  Be on time.  Don't stop a customer unless the manager asks you to.  On and on.  But first, I needed a uniform.  Just 4 blocks away, the uniform company was located on the third floor of another nondescript building, which was secured.  I waited for someone  to leave, then took the elevator up.  After less than a half hour, I had a new black polyester suit, two grey shirts, and a clip on black tie.  And a bill for $100 to be taken out of the next four paychecks.  Back to the office to check in and get the details of my assignment.

I was told to go to Whole Foods at 25th and Seventh, and train for four hours.  Does something seem odd here?  I'm working at Ann Taylor at 43rd and Madison and training for the job at a Whole Foods grocery store.  I learned a lot that day...about the policies and procedures at Whole Foods.  The following day, I showed up at Ann Taylor at noon to work until 8:00.  For $10 per hour.  I was crying.  Bored.  Not sure how I would make a career out of this, but if I paid my dues for a year or two, I knew there was a possibility I could land an office building downtown, or a cushy job organizing carts at Whole Foods, or any number of other security positions in a City this big.  If I paid my dues.  For a year or two.  Crying all the way.  Bored to tears.  Ugh.

On my lunch break, I posted on Facebook that the "Job situation is looking up."  Comparatively, this was entirely true.  But I was planning on a long, slow career in Security.  Until, on my way home, there was a message from an old acquaintance-a guy I worked with at Papyrus years ago.  He said his wife is the district manager at Love Culture.  Would I be interested in talking to her about a job?  I asked him to give me a chance to check  it out, and I would get back to him.  I had never heard of  Love Culture,  and I was not interested in multi-level marketing of any kind.  Turns out Love Culture is a women's clothing store, similar to Forever 21.  The second easiest interview I've ever had was something like "Marcus never recommends anyone, so you are good in my book.  I just wanted to meet you in person.  When can you start?"  I have been there for just over a month, and I am having so much fun.  Retail is retail, but I don't know anything about women's fashion.  Correction.  I didn't.  I know what leggings are now.  My story opens a new chapter.  This is, as usual, an adventure.

A Detailed Account of a Short Security Career (Part One)

In late September, I made a mistake at work.  Let's just say I took a loan from the store and forgot to sign the loan papers.  When Pam, the store manager, found out, she did what she had to do.  It was reported up the chain and I was fired.  A few notes about this.  First, I do not,  nor ever have blamed Pam for my losing my job.  She had her own procedures to follow. And second, I was about ready to leave the company anyway.  I just didn't plan on such a magnificent flame-out.  Who has time for applications and interviews when you have a full-time job?  As soon as I was suspended, I knew I would not be asked back, so I went home and began trolling Craigslist for a new job, career, opportunity....something.  As usual, I was open to anything-including NYC Taxi Driver.

I responded to an ad for customer service.  I really believe, at age 41, that that is my lifeblood.  I love to work with people, and see how I can help them.  I love to hear "You made my day."  I received a phone call the following day saying to come to the City for an interview and to bring my ID, Social Security card, and $80 for customer service classes.  I thought that was odd, but I went.  I entered a non-descript building on West 37th Street and went to the (unmarked) 12th floor.  I noticed rows of folding chairs, people who looked like they had been waiting for days, and a flurry of activity by the people behind the desk.  There were posters and notices all over the room for security careers, both armed and unarmed guards.  Most noticeably though, where the signs stating, "If you think we are a scam, please leave now.  Do not waste our time or yours."  If ever there was a unique way to welcome someone, this would be it.

I was greeted in a short amount of time by a rather large man named McSomething-or-other, and being in New York, I wasn't sure if that was his first or last name.  It turns out, in the security world, you only use your last name.  Anyway, we went into another room and I sat down in a folding chair in the corner.  Mr. McSomething shoehorned himself behind the desk and we began talking.  He asked for my resume and I told him I did not have it, because I had sent it with my Craigslist response and figured he would have it.  He said,  "That's OK, we will conduct this interview based on your personality and demeanor."  I smiled inside, and let a little one escape and then said in my out-loud voice, "Then just go ahead and sign me up.  I got this."  He proceeded to ask me to tell me about myself.  I said, "The most important thing you should know is that I have been in the area for five years, and I still can't get enough.  I LOVE this City."  He asked about my availability (open) and my criminal background (nothing on the books since 2000) and then offered me a job.  Just like that.  Easily the quickest, easiest interview I've ever had.  (Stay tuned for the second-easiest interview ever.)

The details of the job were as follows:  I would take a three-day class in customer service, and begin the following week.  The class would cost $300 and the $80 I had with me was the deposit.  If I wanted to pay the $300 in full today, they would waive the deposit fee.  The job would be a position as a concierge/doorman/greeter in a high-end apartment building in NYC somewhere.  It would pay $15/hour and be Monday through Friday either 8a-4p, 9a-5p, or 10a-6p.  During the conversation, he also mentioned a "Level 2."  for an additional $150, I could take a fourth day of class, for training as a Fire Guard and that would increase my pay to $17/hour.  I said I would do four days of training and I could begin the next week, as I had guests coming into town this coming weekend.  He agreed, and I left.  A dream job, right?

I went back the following week to pay for the classes and schedule the Fire Guard training.  I went back the next day to take the FG training.  It was scheduled for two hours and we were handed a booklet which was then read to us...in less than 45 minutes.  We were instructed to go to Brooklyn with a letter we were given and take a test.  The place would be open from 8a-2p, and it was best to get there by 8:30 at the latest.  Oh...one more thing.  The test cost $25.  I asked McSomething if there were any other fees that I would need to pay, and he said, "No.  After you pay the $25 (at the location in Brooklyn), there is nothing else to pay....to us."  I also asked if this was a six-hour test.  He said no, that it shouldn't take that long.  I left the class and planned to take the test the following Monday.  Except that's when my three-day class began for customer service.  [See: Security Training.]

Please understand...when I was given the dates and times for the customer service class, I was given a date two weeks out, but was told I could go this week and see if someone didn't show up.  Then I would be a week ahead of schedule.  I met a friend for breakfast at the ungodly hour of 7am, then went to class.  There was no wait-and-see if someone didn't show up.  I was ushered into the room to fill out paperwork and wait for the instructor.  The-long-and-the-short of it is this:  I found myself in a three-day class required by the state of New York in order to apply for an unarmed security guard license.  It was interesting and I learned a lot.  For instance, What are the two most important floors to evacuate when a building is on fire?  (The floor the fire is on (duh) and the one above it.)  I would even call the class fun.  It was taught by a self-described Puerto Rican who did not believe in political correctness.

For good measure, I went  back to the office I interviewed in, and asked to speak to McSomething.  He came out and I asked one question.  "Am I going to be a security guard in this position?  Because I seem to be in a class for security, and not customer service."  "Oh no," he said, "in buildings of a certain size, New York requires the doormen and concierges to be licensed security, but you will not be a security guard.  The worst that may happen is a rich lady will yell at you."  Relieved, I left.  Just a comment about all these trips to the office.  McSomething gave me his phone number and told me to call him and keep him posted on my progress.  The first couple times I called, he didn't answer so I left a message.  Then his phone was off.  When I went in one day, I asked him about that, and he said he lost it over the weekend, and gave me a new number.  Relieved, I left.

I finished the class, and passed with flying colors.  (Mostly because all I had to do was show up.  There was no final exam.)  The next step?  Go to the fingerprinting place, pay $175 to be fingerprinted, then go to the New York State DMV and get a New York ID Card.  As I recall this cost $24 for a card that expires in eight years.  [See: A Day at the DMV.]  Finally, take all of this information to the State office building, and pay the $36 application fee.  Then wait.  In four to six weeks, I would receive a "unique ID number" and could then go straight to work.  One more time, I went back to McSomething and asked him if it would really take 4-6 weeks and he said, "Nah, it should be around a week.  Keep calling the state and see if they have the number."  I called 8 days later, and they told me they did not have a number and reiterated that it would be 4-6 weeks.  I called 11 days after I applied, and they said again that it could be 4-6 weeks, but she checked, and there it was!  I could begin work the following day!

Lets look at a list of dates now
September 30th-Lost job at Papyrus
October 4th-Interviewed and accepted new job, with the proviso that I would be ready to work within a week.
October 14,15,16-Security Class
October 29-All pre-requisites completed, ready to work
November 3-First day on the job.

At this point I was eating boxed macaroni and cheese.  OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but this working-in-a-week promise was long gone.  No matter, I was ready to go now.  I had my UID, my Fire Guard Certification, and my renewed New Jersey driver's license.  I went to the office, dressed in my suit and tie, ready to work.  I expected to be taken directly to the site and begin working, because that's what McSomething told me I would be doing.  I was fairly singing that morning.  The music playing in my ears helped that, but really, I was ready to work.  Into the building, up in the elevator, wait, wait, wait-the elevator might be the slowest in the City.  The doors open....I look out on a room holding at least 30 people.  I check my watch- I was early- before 7:30 am.  I went into the room, and asked for McSomething's director (as I was told to do) but was given a list of security companies.  I  stood, shocked for a minute.  I realized that "take you to the site" meant go apply for a job at another company.  I went back downstairs and was in the lobby, when a guy approached me and asked about my experience with this company.  As we were talking, the office manager came in and waited for the elevator.  I mentioned to her that McSomething was supposed to "take me to the site" and her immediate response was, "yeah,  there is no site."  I thought, "That would have been nice to know four weeks ago."

[End Part One...Please change the reel]