Journal of a Job Hunter – Not As Advertised

Brittany’s back with a new job searcher adventure for us. Enjoy! -Nick

T-Mobile. One week into unemployment and I have another interview scheduled at T-Mobile. I found a posting for a Customer Service Representative. I read through the description, and I decided that yes, I would love helping people; yes, I would love working for a large company that offers a great benefits, including tuition reimbursement, medical, dental, and vision, and yes; I would love to get a discount on cell phone; oh and yes, I don’t mind working an entry level position to get a foot in the door and eventually move up the corporate ladder of success.

Sounds like a winner. Bring on the interview.

My interview started out really well. I researched the company, the competitors, and the current Denver area mobile service market. I showed up on time and I met with the gentleman who would be my supervisor if we chose to embark down that road. I told him about myself and my resume, told a few jokes and got a few laughs…. It all flowed really well. I told him how I love working with people, and that I had once quit a job after four days that had me working as a phone operator for eight hours a day. That job had me working in a closet, by my self, transferring calls. I was lonely. Not to mention the fact that after eight hours the guy that came to fill in for me was blind. He was really great at the job, great customer service skills, but I can see. I felt that opened me up to a broader expanse of job possibilities. So I quit, and I never looked back.

The T-Mobile interview continued to the point where my interviewer described the duties of the job. He explained that the actual role was for a person to set up a booth in various large box stores (i.e. Cost Co, or Sam’s Club, or Wal-Mart), where the person would serve as a Service Representative for people that enter the store. The person works off of commission, while making a base rate of minimum wage. Evenings and weekends are typical times for working independently.

He finished explaining the role and he asked what I thought, and I told him that it sounded pretty awful.

He looked at me, and said, “You have an excellent background in customer service, sales, and marketing, I’m sure that this position would be like second nature to you.”

I told him that I thought I would hate my job every day.

He said to think about it and call him with any questions.

I went home and filled out three more job applications that had nothing to do with oversized product stores.