March 22, 2007
Letter Writing: B-
At the end of next week, they stop taking applications for my temp job and start interviewing prospective full-time employees. And not a minute too soon!
Most of the people I work with are really nice. In fact, it's kind of like working with my family.
One gentleman is half deaf, so I have to use my "outside voice," just like with Dad. Another man is often singing, reminding me of Mom. And while I'm practically sweating in a short-sleeved blouse, the woman whose cube is directly across from mine is chilly in her turtleneck and blazer. Remind you of anyone, Spikette?
(Have I mentioned before that Spikette is the name Older Sister chose for herself? It's because she's in love with Spike from "Buffy.")
However, there's no one in my family, or even my circle of friends, of whom I am fondly reminded when I deal with my temporary boss. He's quite the perfectionist.
Any letter I do for him must go back to him perfect and ready to be signed, no matter how unclear he is on the tape, or how unfamiliar I am with the lexicon of this particular industry.
Now, normally, he just corrects my mistakes in black pen. But in this particular instance, he switched to a red pen -- mid-letter -- because I misspelled the name of The Big Cheese of the company.
He also added his own charming little opinion, in graphic form:
A sad face. He made a fucking sad face on my letter! Like he was grading a third grade book report, for God's sake!
Dude is totally on probation. One more move like that, and I'm outta here. I didn't leave the tyranny of my old job just to suck up some arrogant condesension from this guy.
I think, when/if I start job searching in earnest, I should have employers submit their resumes to me, along with a list of references. And I should be allowed confidential interviews with the other employees.
Seriously, why is the employee the only one who gets grilled and inspected? It starts out the whole relationship wrong when you're already in a superior vs. inferior setting.
Seriously! Who says that, just because they're looking for a secretary, I should be turning cartwheels in hopes that they'll honor me with the opportunity to serve them? Here's a question for ya: Why the hell did your last secretary leave?!
I'm going to do it. I'm going to interview all my potential bosses. Every question that gets asked of me, I'm going to turn back onto them.
Thereby ensuring that I never work again. : )
Comments
It's a very good idea to interview a potential boss. I find I usually spend more time listening to the interviewer talk about the company/position than I do talking about myself. The interviewer should ask if you have any questions. That's your opportunity. It's not unreasonable to ask why the person whose position you are filling is no longer in it. If he/she doesn't want to answer the question, run away as fast as you can.
Posted by: Shannon at March 22, 2007 08:54 AM
I think you should totally take that approach when interviewing.
I told the boss I'm currently working for when I made it to the second interview that it's just as much of me interviewing him because I'm not taking a job strictly for the money or even the title, it's about being happy and enjoying what I do.
I think the right boss will respect that you're looking for more than just a place to hang out 40 hours a week.
Posted by: Hope at March 22, 2007 10:19 AM
actually, that is how I've always thought of an interview - they're grilling me, I'm grilling them. It's like a first date - they ask me to see pictures of my mother (to see if I'll age well) and I ask if they've had any venereal diseases (including children).
the only thing that determines inferior vs superior is what shoes we're all wearing. because, girl, if they're wearing payless, I'm *so* the boss of them...
Posted by: heather at March 22, 2007 10:47 AM
Sounds like a marvelous idea! We've hired some clashing employees in the past at my office and if they had asked us more questions they would have realized that this office wasn't for them.
However, I think we have done a good job grilling the prospective employees, so when things don't work out, it can't possibly be the fault of the existing staff. No way! :-)
Posted by: Numerica at March 22, 2007 02:37 PM