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Monday, March 11, 2013

An interview for a job in Hell...

Some of you might remember that that I lost my job of 15 years just after Thanksgiving. I still don't have a new one but I did go on a scary interview a few weeks back.

The funny thing is that the night before the interview my son and I were walking and I was saying how much I'd just like it if it was a relaxed place, even if the job didn't offer big $, as long as it would be a nice place to work. That's all I wanted, someplace happy to go to every day for 8 hours.

So. I get up early and dress up nice and head up to...no, I won't say where, just that it was a business out on Route 17. There, the person who had called me for the interview - who was quite pleasant, btw - took me upstairs where the offices were. She brought me into the bosses office (I didn't get to meet him as he was out sick) to wait while she fetched a co-worker. The office had televisions with the latest news running, security cameras, and a bunch of hunting trophies on the walls. The clue I was in the wrong place was on the boss's desk in the form of a plaque that said something like: "You're entitled to your opinions, just as long as they agree with mine."

A few minutes later the nice woman came back with a man with an immense beer belly covered by an oxford not quite tucked in properly, bad teeth, and piggy eyes. He did most of the talking. Asked me about the circumstances of my departure which I told him was due to finances. He asked how much I was making and when I told him, he said, "No wonder the company was losing money!" He also was kind enough to tell me that employees at this company could be divided into two categories, expenses and revenue. I would be an expense, he informed me. He then asked what I was looking for in a job and I said I was hoping to find a fairly pleasant place to work where everyone acted as a team and communicated effectively with one another. He gave a snorty laugh and asked where I thought I was going to find that job. Finally he asked if I had any questions and I politely inquired about the starting pay and benefits. I was told that a few select people were able to get health insurance through the company - he wasn't quite clear on how one qualified - and that there were five paid holidays, unless of course they fell on a weekend in which case no pay and certainly no day off in lieu of. No mention of vacation or sick days.

 I don't think I've ever gotten such bad vibes from a place. Literally, it was like I was interviewing for a position in hell. Of course the good thing is that any job I interview for after that will seem like heaven plus (bonus) it gave me an idea what working in hell might be like...



(to be continued on Friday)







48 comments:

  1. If that place calls back, say no! The money won't be worth it.

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    1. I'm sure it wouldn't be since they wouldn't even tell me what the wages would be!

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  2. Did the other employees pass you notes saying "Please help me" or "Save Yourself?"

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    1. I only saw two other people, too briefly to form an opinion. The interview was enough to know that this would not be a happy place to work. I felt like I'd be in trouble on day one.

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  3. Doesn't sound like a place you'd want to work. I agree with Alex and Dianne's comments. I hope I don't have an experience like that when I start looking for a job next year.

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  4. When people come to interview where I work, I consider telling them "run and save yourself while you can!" But my boss doesn't sound nearly as bad as that guy.

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    1. He wasn't even the boss, but he had kind of a boss attitude!

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  5. What a creep! I can't believe anyone works there. So sorry your hope to relieve your mind with a pleasant day job didn't work out here, but that guy is totally wrong. On so many hellish levels. I'm sure the job and place that will appreciate how awesome you are is out there. ;-)

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  6. Kick it into gear and run away from this job. Seriously, this guy sounds like the stereotypical 'bad boss' that could make it into the movies.

    I'm guessing you don't want the job since you posted this :)

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    1. It doesn't sound like the sort of place I'd like to spend 8-9 hours every day, that's for sure. But you'll notice I left out a lot of identifying features like the name of the business, what town it was in, etc.

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  7. Well you got through to the job interview which is always the first hurdle and a positive!! GOOD FOR YOU!! As for the interview itself... YIKES!!!! He wasn't called Mr B. El-Zeebub was he!??! Good grief! :-(

    Take care
    x

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    1. My entire family wanted to know why I didn't walk out. I think I was a little stunned. lol.

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  8. YIKES! I have to agree with everyone else. Run for it.

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  9. Oh, way to trust those instincts and run (right?). I'll bet the morale of the place was pretty bad among the workers too. And, hey, maybe you got a new story idea. :))

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    1. The place did give me ideas, I admit...Stephen Kingish ideas.

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  10. oh, such a lovely and pleasant working atmosphere LOL :)
    I'm guessing you didn't send him a thankyou note after the interview :)
    I was one asked at a job interview if I plan to get pregnant in the near future (and you all know me is a boy, not a girl) :)

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    1. OMG I can't believe anyone asked you that. Were they blind? Could they not read your name? I can't even see you and I knew you were a boy first time I came to your blog!

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    2. no, no, she knew I was a boy, but she didn't deem it a stupid question :) In my country men don't really get pregnancy leave if their wives are with a baby, so the question was stupid.

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  11. I have been in sales in part of my life...Autos, the hotel industry....and I learned that the first one to mention money....looses.

    He sounded like the person that basically represented the company.....and that sign...."negative"/ego issues...

    No one would ever put me into a category to my face like that....I probably would have said, really? Well it looks to me like your probably the "expense of the company, and they aren't quite finished with you yet"....then I would have left. But that is me.

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    1. Yup, alot of people have asked me why I didn't get up in the middle and walk out.

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  12. Oh my...

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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  13. Sounds like you interviewed with Republicans. I wonder if Rick Santorum owned that place.

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  14. Really hate it when peeps comment on a good story with something political. And that was a good story.ha I'm afraid I would have started laughing in the middle of the interview. You're not taking that, right?

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    1. yeah, definitely not taking that. definitely.

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  15. What a beastly interview! On the plus side, after that experience, there's no place to go but up. (After all, hell IS "down", right?)

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  16. Scary what companies get away with. I'm sure you don't need my guidance...but run away, dear. Run far, far away!!!

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  17. ack!
    that thing has a job and is the boss! no fair!!
    it was a blessing to have that interview as a trial run. now you're ready for anything!
    keep at it!

    and have you considered publishers weekly? or goodreads? they post jobs in their news letters... let me know and i'll forward you one

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    1. I'll have to check them out - I did peek at goodreads but nothing there I qualify for :( I'll go check pub weekly. Thanks!

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  18. I wrote a comment, and it vanished.

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    1. That's weird, that one went through. Anyway, I am sorry that this job didn't work. Doesn't sound like a good place for you.

      Here's to you finding a good one, soon.

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  19. I agree with Alex, avoid that place. It's not worth it. However, the guy was right about employees being divided into revenue and expense. "Billet" is the buzz word, an out-growth of the recession that won't go away soon.

    I know the right job will come your way!!!

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    1. he may have been correct, but saying so in an interview may not be the best way to get the kind of employee you want. Of course, he said quite a bit perhaps he shouldn't have...I sure hope the right job comes soon!

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  20. I had a job interview that was kind of like that, although not near as bad as what you experienced. I'd go with your gut on this one...

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  21. God that sounds terrible. Sometimes I get frustrated with the topdown nature of my job but it's easy to ignore what the business world is really like. The library is far safer than the shark tank! Cheers!

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    1. I applied for a job at one of the libraries around here. It looked like a great job with nice people and books *sigh*

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  22. How horrible!
    I hope you have better luck going forward.

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  23. Omigosh! Run at warp speed! I cannot imagine anyone working in such an environment. Here's to you finding your dream job soon :)

    Great to meet you on Susan's blog today!

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  24. Run for your life is right!! Ick. I couldnt stand working for someone like that. I'm sorry you lost your job, but I agree--somewhere relaxed that gives a real crap about their employees. Hard to find,but not impossible. Best of luck to you!

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  25. It's amazing how unaware some people can be of the image they are putting out their about themselves. One would have to be really desperate to even consider it.

    Dropping by from A to Z Challenge. This is my first year participating.

    Brett Minor
    Transformed Nonconformist

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  26. I'm sorry but the truth is there are just some really shitty people in this world. Okay we need to do a blog hop about worst interviews. I just think it could be funny. I have one I'd love to write about.

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