I Am Jill's Rage
So, it's not really news to anyone that I've been looking for a new job since I started my "new" job. I've put my resume on every job board out there; monster, career builder, pittsburghjobs.com blah blah blah. You name it; I've applied and registered to their website. It seems as though the application process is never ending. Imagine in the fashion of a Choose Your Own Adventure book: You have applied to Monster and then begin to sift through the listings to find things that are reasonably well suited to your abilities. You have found something you like! You click on the link and there is an entirely separate website you have to register with in order to apply just for that one job. You register on the website only to find the position that you want to apply for has already been filled and are then prompted to "feel free" to look at the other postings available. Nothing looks good so you leave that website and go back to the original website (Monster) and trudge on. Take that scenario and multiply it by a thousand and you've come full circle to me. I digress.

So this afternoon around 1 or so I received a call from a man who said he was "VERY interested in having you come apply!"

"Where did you see my resume?" I rarely let hope affect my judgment. This guy was too cheery to not be selling something.

"I saw it while browsing Monster. So what do you think?" He was pitching me.

"What’s the name of your company?"

At this point in the story, as you can see, I am a naturally guarded person. If there is one thing that interviewing over and over again via phone, chat, email, in person and whilst participating in other activities to gauge the truthfulness of your answers (yes, there are employers that actually use this technique) it is that you should know what you're getting in to before you get in to it.

"Uh," He falters for a moment, "JG something blah blah agency." I've adlibbed a bit on the actual name as I have already forgotten it.

There are several types of "businesses" you should be on the alert to avoid or be wary of. They call themselves firms or agencies. They are more than likely Insurance salespeople or Temp Agencies. They go about trying to recruit you as a business, because that's all it is to them. They try to get you to sell things, or they try to sell you. Either way it's prostitution.

"I'm sorry, what kind of agency was this?" I already knew the answer.

"We are an employment agency, and I have a candidate in downtown Pittsburgh who is interested in your resume."

"What kind of work would it be?"

"It's a marketing firm, you know, the usual Administrative stuff. When can I get you in for an interview?" I could tell by the tone of his voice he was irritated and he was still trying to sell me.

"I don't know. I'll have to think about it. I've already signed on with two temp agencies, and nothing has really come through there. Plus, before I even see the person who you claim is interested in me, I have to come in and interview for you, so I can take aptitude tests, and jump through hoops and you aren't even the ones hiring me."

"I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time understanding. Of course you have to interview. What do these other agencies have to do with me? I can't help that they didn't come through for you. I already told you I had someone lined up for you. Are you interested or not?" He was disgruntled, and his tone suggested that I was wasting his time. He was essentially trying to bully me into coming in to interview.

"Here's the thing," and I knew then that I was going to ruin his day, and I was going to enjoy it, "I have no problem with interviewing, but you're not even the one who would be hiring me. You can say all you want that you have this job lined up for me downtown, but you don’t even know me, and if we're being honest, you probably haven't even read my resume. Every temp agency dangles the carrot of possible employment in an attempt to get us to come in to "interview" with you but the fact of the matter is I can do better. And your trying to bully me into a response is unappreciated, so even if I had been interested my answer now is definitely no."

I could hear him frustratedly trying to think of a come back so I wished him a good day and I hung up the phone.

I would never presume that my time is more valuable than someone else's. I am every bit as busy and important as the next schmuck out there - so what really frosts my cookies, is when I am treated as though I am beneath someone. I don't believe in status, and I don't believe in scraping and bowing and ass kissing. I believe in doing my job, doing it better than the next guy, and respecting my co-workers. I feel like, if I do my job well, it shouldn't matter whose butt I kiss. It's like every company wants to be their own monarchy; The Kingdom of NHS and all who serve beneath his and her royal majesties.

Quick! Someone write my book for me so I can become independently wealthy and tell the temp agencies, insurance sales people and my bosses to kiss the fattest part of my ass because I'm going to Disneyland. Not really, lines and children make me nauseated.

There comes a point when a change needs to be made, and I'm wondering if I have the stones to make it. Or the wits to even know what "it" is yet. I'll wait for the epiphany, and in the meantime, I'll piss off as many temp agencies and telemarketers as I can.

See ya folks.