Inspired by clutter and snoopy, has your "obscure talent" ever gotten you anywhere???

[Robinrs]

I noted in clutter's thread about "obscure talents" that I have always been a good speller. I always thought it was a wasted talent until I interviewed for a very prestigious job at Home Box Office.

My agent warned me that many people had interviewed with this guy and he was just "strange". He would ask you a strange question and after that he sent the interviewee packing. I took a chance anyway because I really wanted to work there. A job at HBO was THE job to get in mid Manhattan at the time and I thought, BRING IT ON.

I sat in the office across from a man in a plaid shirt and jeans, leaning back on his chair with his feet up on the desk. He looked sort of like Woody Allen. He smiled at me and asked me my SIGN! "Pisces" I said, confused.... then he asked the weird question...

Give me the definition of the word "complement". I just looked him straight in the eye and asked "which one?"

I thought he was going to fall off his chair!

I explained to him that there was one that was the opposite of an insult and the other is something that completes or goes well with something else.

He just stared at me...

The next day my agent told me I was HIRED!

Why? Because I was the only applicant who KNEW there were TWO of them!! (complement and compliment)

WhatEVER, I got the best job of my life because of my ONLY obscure talent, SPELLING!

Felt good for once!

Anyone else?

 

[Saffron]

Nope!

 

[CookieGVB]

Hey, I can spell - wehre's taht job application??








Yes, I know - I just typed those two words incorrectly - it's taking everything I have in me not to go back and correct them, too!

 

[RUDisney]

When I got my current job, 15 years ago, I put that I liked to do light construction under "hobbies."

When I was offered the job, I was told that they figured if I liked to work with wood, I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty when doing my job. (I was originally hired to be a management trainee.)

I couldn't build a house, but I can build walls, insulate, spackle, paint and I've built some nice chests and shelves. I just wish I had more time to do this sort of stuff. As a matter of fact, I'm better at this type of thing than my DH, and he'd admit it, too.

 

[Jenzebelle]

I can knot a cherry stem with my tongue.

I have a excellent memory for trivia
And I can... (not mentioning it on this board)

 

[AirForceRocks]

Ditto Jenz on the trivia - my mind is a virtual plethora of obscure and useless information.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by CookieGVB
Hey, I can spell - wehre's taht job application??








Yes, I know - I just typed those two words incorrectly - it's taking everything I have in me not to go back and correct them, too!

LOL, Cookie!! Believe me, you have NO IDEA how hard it is for me NOT to edit others posts when I have the ability to do that!! Don't touch that button, Robin.... just back out of the thread and forget about it NOW...

 

[Kitty 34]

I really am a great speller but horrible typist and I press the submit button sometimes too quick before I have edited!!!

 

[browneyes]

Nope

 

[browneyes]

Nope

 

[Cindy B]

Wow, you have an agent, Robin... I'm impressed!

I would have done the same thing, asked which one...


As for my Marty Feldman impersonation, well, can't say I have agents banging on my door for that one...


The impersonation is very funny if you have had some drinks, but other than that, not funny at all...

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

WhatEVER, I got the best job of my life because of my ONLY obscure talent, SPELLING!

I cannot spell to save my life, but, I did know those two definitions!!!! Good for you and congrats.

 

[mickeyfan1]

but since I only believe in taking calculated risks, it has never gotten me anywhere I didn't plan on being.....

I also spell very well, but I am a very poor typist, and I forget to read before posting (a lot).

 

[shep]

nope..not yet..

 

[catsrule]

no, other than driving a co-worker insane.

 

[FergieTCat]

Jenzebelle stole my only two obscure talents! Not fair!!

But I guess obscure and unique are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Jeafl]

Robin, I was Illinois State spelling champion in third grade and it really didn't help me get a dream job. I sincerely hope that wasn't my 15 minutes of fame. I'd hate to think it was wasted on a spelling championship!

 

[binny]

Originally posted by Kitty 34
I really am a great speller but horrible typist and I press the submit button sometimes too quick before I have edited!!!

me too

I hate that too.

 

[debster812]

I'm not sure if I have any talents (obscure or otherwise) bummer

 

[crazyme5kids]

I have a talent for attracting whackos! At least that's what my friends and family call it. It hasn't gotten me anywhere, but I have heard some very interesting stories.