I will never forget this interview I had several years ago. I had been doing shitty social work jobs and I desperately wanted to get out of the field. So I was looking around for anyone that would take me.
As some background, this was a period of really low self esteem for me because my job at the time had me working with someone I needed to help physically at the gym. He kept falling over during exercises and he'd yell at me, and it was complicated but I didn't mean to hurt him. It was just very hard for him to keep his balance and I can barely keep my own fucking balance. I was basically cornered into the job because NOBODY else wanted to do it. This guy would fall over and literally scream so loudly and the whole gym judged the shit out of me for it. They all hated me and wouldn't talk to me because they thought I just let him get hurt, but he would spasm randomly, and I am not coordinated at all. I trip over my own fucking feet, so yeah it was hell. Again, it was complicated and he couldn't help the falling or the screaming, but I lived in fear every single day. The hard truth this guy wouldn't accept is that he needed to be in a wheelchair. Everyone around him wanted to support him so badly, but it wasn't fair to me, and I know that I was not the first person this happened too. His parents told me they had gone through 8 other people before me and his condition had only started five years before this. I would tell his parents when he would fall, and I could tell I was particularly bad at this, but they did not want me to quit because no one else would do this. I was NOT told anything about the serious physical therapy basically that I had to do for this.
Anyways eventually I quit because I was suicidal. I never did social work again and I never will.
Because of this terrible period, I took terrible job interviews because I didn't think anyone would want to hire me. I would be the worst possible option for a burger flipper at McDonalds at this point in my mind (sorry if you work there). So I took an interview at a call center and was ecstatic. Like here's my ticket out I'm taking this. Oh by the way I was living with my parents at this point at 25 years old because social work job paid $11 an hour which was considered high… If you want to do social work DON'T. ITS HORRIBLE. But my parents were super passively egging me on like if I didn't take this job they would be upset. It sucked.
Anyways, I go to this place and I literally see a single file parade of people in their 20s walking inside after having cigarettes. They looked miserable. Great start. I go into this woman's office and she is very stern and rude. Here are some highlights from the interview.
“You'll do great in this job, I'm excited to have you on the team.” (10 minutes into the interview and I had barely spoken).
“When I say be here at 8am, it doesn't mean 8:01, it means 8am. You will get a warning the first time it happens, then a written warning, and then you'll be terminated on the third time.”
“Most people eat lunch at their desk and I suggest you do the same during your 30 minute break. We do not have a break room big enough for everyone. You'll get one 15 minute break where you can get coffee or go outside. The same rule applies for being back at your desk when you're done.”
“We have a phone call quota you must meet every day. If you do not meet it, you will get a warning, then a written warning, and then further action may be taken if we suspect there is a lack of effort to improve.”
“I walk around the office every hour to see how people are doing, please continue working when I do this.”
Finally, she stands up puts her hand out and says, “Thank you for coming in, I think I've decided you will be a good fit here and I'll follow up by phone with more information for you.”
I stand up, shake here hand and say, “Thanks for the offer, but this place doesn't look like it's for me have a good day.” Didn't look back or wait for a response, just walked, undid my tie and took my first step towards a career that I now love. I work at the best job I've ever had now with an amazing team of people. I'm coming up on 3 years here and looking back at this, it is a distinct turning point in my life.
It's AMAZING how so many managers THINK they know what they are doing but have zero fucking clue haha. Do you think the misery parade is going to work harder at that call center? No it's a call center you might say. But if you turned it into a job worth having, you'd be surprised how far people would go if they are motivated and supported.
By the way half the desks were empty. Treat your employees right and your office will be packed full of great people.
TL;DR after a long period of depressing social work jobs I had a terrible interview at a call center and walked out saying I wasn't interested. It changed my life after that day.