The waiting game

What to do while waiting in line

In medicine, as in life, you often have to wait your turn.  If you’ve ever been to Home Affairs or the Traffic Department you’ll understand that queues are no joke.  You have to wake up early so you’re close to the front and sometimes you may need to pack lunch in preparation for an all day event.

While in line you'll notice multiple different characters all waiting for their 15 minutes at the front of the queue.  Some patiently and joyfully, others not so merrily.  Below is a list of the people you may encounter:

The different kinds of queuers 

 1) The preparer - always there before the doors open with all their documents collated, photocopied and stamped.  Ready for action and aiming to be number one, and if that’s not possible at least they’ll be done quickly

2) The social media expert - shows up when it suits them and spends most of the day on their iPhone, loading selfies and messaging friends.  Usually overdressed so that they look fabulous in their selfies.

3) The socialiser - that person who tries to chat to EVERYBODY and wants to play with the random lady’s children.  

4) The queue-jumper - the one who shows up after everyone else, but somehow manages to be finished first.  They have mastered the art of getting ahead without anyone realising they’ve jumped the queue until you see them walking out the door 30 places ahead of you.

5) The complainer - somehow manages to start a quarrel and needs to make sure everyone knows how unfair the queueing system is.  They usually spot the queue jumper on their way out the door and they make sure they leave embarrassed.

6) The quitter - gets there late, expecting there to be a short line and leaves without completing the task

7) The know-it-all, the person who’s been to home affairs one too many times and somehow knows how to legally get their papers done well ahead of everyone else.  They know which row to sit in, which forms to fill, how to fast-track their applications and their Aunty may even work at Teller 5 (the good teller). 

Getting ahead is a combination of factors, some of these are within your control but many of these are not.  The way you behave often determines your trajectory.  A job hunt, like a day at Home Affairs can either be a nightmare or a fulfilling experience.  Nobody enjoys going to Home Affairs, some leave disappointed, many leave empty-hande

d while others leave fulfilled and rewarded.  Your attitude determines your altitude.

Next time you’re waiting in line ask yourself what the waiting game is telling you about yourself and how can you make it to the top with your integrity intact.