I have another job interview next week. This is an unusual and competitive position. The interview is actually for a company scholarship, which awards AU$20,000 to the “winner” to take a study tour anywhere in the world he or she chooses, once he or she has worked for the company for nine months. After the study tour, the person comes back to work for another two or three years, then gets an overseas posting for up to two years.

I’m one of four applicants to reach the interview stage. We’ve been chosen from all the applicants in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Exciting, eh.

I don’t even know if I’d take the scholarship if it was offered to me. I feel a sense of loyalty to the company I worked for over summer. They’ve treated me very, very well and I like the people there. They’re also Australian-owned. This other company offering the scholarship is British. The ownership would make a big difference to my decision, if I find myself in the not-unfortunate position of having to choose between job offers. I want to support Australian industry!

At the end of the phone call, the lady said, “Excellent, we’ll see you on Wednesday then. Oh, one final thing. On your form, you didn’t tick the box to say that you are a Permanant Resident…”

I paused. “That’s right… because I’m an Australian citizen.”

With obvious relief in her voice, she exclaimed, “Oh! That’s even better!”

HAHAHAHA! What a gaffe. I think it was partly my fault and mostly theirs. They should have written “Australian Permanant Resident/Citizen”. Look, HR people, if you’re going to unnecessarily capitalise words, be prepared for misunderstanding. Permanant Resident implies the official definition of the term. That is, people who have visas to live in Australia but are not citizens.

I guess if I’m so clever, I should have anticipated their silliness.