The SC who wanted to take over the world...well mine anyway.

[customersruinmylife]

OK, I've already posted tonight, but I couldn't not tell this tale.

Lady comes up to the bar. She is about 50 and VERY bossy towards me.

SC: Give me your managers number.
Me: I'm the manager on tonight. Can I help?
SC: No, I want the main manager, not assistant manager.
Me: OK, I'm afraid I can't give that personal information out. I can take a message for you if you want?
SC: No, that's fine. But can you come sit down with me? I would like a word.
Me: OK...

I sat down with her. She started talking to me like she was a school teacher and I was her unruley pupil.

SC: So...how has your shift been tonight?
Me: It's been...fine.
SC: Fine? Just fine? What does that mean?
Me: Well...it's been quite steady...quite quiet.
SC: Steady? Quiet? One or the other? Choose.
Me: I would say quiet.
SC: No complaints? No refunds?
Me: No...not that I know of.
SC: What do you mean?
Me: Well, no one has come up to me and informed me of a complaint.

I was really confused at this point. I thought she was being a sneaky SC. I thought she was going to turn around and say "Well...this happened to me! Blah Blah Blah!" but she never.

SC: OK, so if someone came up to you with a complaint...how would you handle it?
Me: Well, I would have a chat with the customer, find out what was wrong, find out why this has happened, and try and find a solution to make the customer happy.
SC: What kind of solutions?
Me: Well...perhaps a refund, a free drink. Sometimes a quick word and being friendly does the trick.
SC: Good answer...good answer...
Me: Can I just ask...why are you asking me this?
SC: Well...I was wondering...do you have any jobs available?
Me: To be honest, I don't think so. We have a pretty full staff.
SC: Can I have an application form?
Me: Um..yeah.

I get her the form.

SC: I'm sorry I'm asking you so many questions. I just wanted to know a little bit more about you for when you start working for me.
Me: I start working for you?
SC: Well...I have a lot of management experience. I'm going to be in charge.
Me: Oh...right.
SC: So is there anything you can tell me about here that you don't like?
Me: What?
SC: Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
Me: I'm very happy working here to be honest...
SC: There must be something. No matter. Whatever it is, I'll have it sorted. What's the staff turnover like?
Me: It's pretty good...no one has left in months.
SC:OK...I'll just fill this in...you know...just for the formality.

After she left, I called the manager.

Manager: Is she a small dumpy 50 year old woman?
Me: Yeah.
Manager: Yeah, put her application in the bin. She wants to take over the bar.

She returned.

SC: There you are. I look forward to working with you. Don't worry, after what you've told me your job is safe.
Me: Um..OK, see you.
SC: You will.

[Listerfiend]

That's just... creepy. What a nutjob! I can't believe she persisted even after you told her about the low turnover rate. She obviously has some serious psychological issues with control.

[flybye023]

Oooh, oooh me next!

Okay, I worked at one of those warehouse-type home improvement stores. This lady came in one day dressed to. the. nines. Executive style dress, attache case (no regular briefcase for this one), the works. Walks up to one of the customer service associates and demands to see the store director. The associate, naturally, asks if there is something she can help with; the lady very rudely refuses. Associate calls, store director is not in but one of the assistant managers offers to come up. Lady sighs and concedes that "that will do, I guess".

He gets up to the front and asks how he can help.

SC: I want to apply for a job

Mgr: (what the hell? that's it?!) Well, you can apply through the online kiosk over there or, if you prefer, can access our site from home and apply there.

SC: No, you misunderstand. I don't want to apply for a regular job (said verrry snottily) I'm looking for high level management jobs.

Mgr: Well, you'll still have to apply online. That's where all of our jobs are. Just so you know, our headquarters are <on opposite end of the country>. The type position you're looking for would be there.

SC: I don't want to apply online! I want to make sure the right people see my resume! (attempts to hand manager said resume). Give the store director this...He'll see how good I am.

(Note: our store has one of those big information boards when you first walk in that has the managements' individual pictures with their name and title under it)

Mgr: We don't take any resumes in our retail location. If you want, I can give the store director your name and she can at least give your name to the regional people so they'll be on the look out for your application.
( ummm, yeah with a note that said how rude you were, how you obviously hadn't researched the work environment to show up dressed the way you were, how you couldn't be bothered to know even the GENDER of the store manager when her picture was hung in the entryway....Yeah we'll certainly pass alll of this along)

SC reluctantly give a business card and leaves.


Seriously. This is how you give a good impression to future employers?

[mattm04]

My company has the on-line application for all employees. If it is a management job that is posted as an opening at the end of the application process the system tells you the options you have for submitting resume, etc. If it is a hourly retail type job you fill out the application, and specify what depts you would like, some other questions, etc and then it tells give you a application number to reference if you ever call. For the retail hourly app it takes about 30-45 minutes to do. We have one lady who comes in alomost every day and fills out an app. The Payroll Clerk really hate sit because evey time she has to fill out some form to sent to corp to tell them why she is denying it. Saying you are a prostitute, and drug dealer as "past employment" does not look good.

[Snowbird]

That sounds like the woman that interviewed for the same position I did a long while back. I had my interview at 3 p.m. and was there 10 minutes early. She was there as well, asking at the counter when the manager could see her for her interview. He came out to see me for mine, and gave her the funkiest look, telling her that her interview wasn't until 5 p.m. She stared at him straight, gave a little head shake and replied that she was here now, he'd interview her right then. He politely refused and told her to come back when it was time because he was not available.

I had my interview, left and saw her still waiting inside of the store. One more interview later and I was hired. Two days later, guess who comes waltzing in the store, staring at me like I've got two heads? She puts her hands on her hips, trying to keep her face from snarling she-ogre by fake smiling (which was scarier still) and demanded I tell her when I got hired. I was clueless and almost answered 'two days ago' but the manager was standing right behind her, waving his hands vigorously and shaking his head before he mouthed, 'tell her a looooong time!!'. She huffed and stormed away when I answered, the manager shuddered and then laughed. I guess she really impressed him with her skillz.

People like these are the reason that there are career counselors.

[SportinGoods]

My company has the on-line application for all employees. If it is a management job that is posted as an opening at the end of the application process the system tells you the options you have for submitting resume, etc. If it is a hourly retail type job you fill out the application, and specify what depts you would like, some other questions, etc and then it tells give you a application number to reference if you ever call. For the retail hourly app it takes about 30-45 minutes to do. We have one lady who comes in alomost every day and fills out an app. The Payroll Clerk really hate sit because evey time she has to fill out some form to sent to corp to tell them why she is denying it. Saying you are a prostitute, and drug dealer as "past employment" does not look good.

Hate to sound like a party pooper, as I've never put anything like that on an application or resume. But wouldn't you think that if she came in "almost every day" and applied that she might really want to work there? If she was currently involved in that type of activity I don't think she would remember, much less care to come in so often to apply. Just saying, past is past, most of the time it doesn't define the person they are, then again, I'm not sure what kind of business you have there, or weather that information was from a backround check.

Edit: The only reason this kind of struck a cord is that most of the jobs I've gotten, have been because of persistence, it took me three weeks of calling the GM of the porn store every few days to try and get an interview, as I didn't fit the "typical" employee he hired. Meaning that I'm not skinny, and not willing to do "whatever it takes" to make a sale. Maybe the woman just wanted a fresh start?

[CancelMyService]

If I had someone coming in on an almost daily (or even weekly) basis that would send up a whole UN worth of warning flags that this may be someone with some kind of issues.

Also while some people have less than perfect pasts and learn from them, most people with such backgrounds don't. Harsh, but sadly true. I mean, I'm not in HR but I've been around the hiring process long enough that you can pretty much tell if someone is a fit for a position in about 10 seconds, and I don't mean by illegal means like race/sex/origin. If someone comes in and skeeves out the whole store every week, you can pretty much assume they wouldn't be someone you'd want helping custiomers.

[thehippie777]

um whoa... There is a difference between being confident and being overally sure of one's self (a "Hitler complex" if you will). I have worked with people who think they can take over the company & make it better...but...do they? No. Overally sure of them selves people usually are also full of it. Apply for a job & have your resume speak for you...that is what they are for. If you feel the need, go in & speak to a manager & tell them you have high interest in working for the company. Don't go in there & be arguementative...idiots! lol

[Whyme]

Hate to sound like a party pooper, as I've never put anything like that on an application or resume. But wouldn't you think that if she came in "almost every day" and applied that she might really want to work there?

You would think that, wouldn't you? We have had people come in almost every day, fill out the kiosk apps, speak to all the assistant managers and managers, etc. They seem friendly and nice. We think "Oh, they must really want to work here!". All 4 times I have witnessed this, we would eventually hire them. All 4 times, the person would stop showing up to work after only being there a couple of months.

I'm not saying every one does this, I'm just saying the woman coming in every day may be persistent, but it's not a sign that she's going to be a good employee or stay very long at the job.

[Posture Moll]

Customersruinmylife, you have the patience of a saint. As soon as the old bat had gotten to saying_

SC: Fine? Just fine? What does that mean?

_ I probably would have redirected the conversation, with a polite "Just exactly that- that it's been fine. Now, what precisely can I help you with?"

It may have been brusque, but I don't see how it's appropriate to interrogate a perfect stranger like that.

[Nakajo]

These crazy people are the reason why I LOVE that my company only promotes from within.

The (usual) trend with hiring a Manager in our retail chain that they only hire great people. Almost* every single manager I have ever had at this store has been super awesome to work with, and you can talk to them about almost anything.

Those snooty SC's would be out the door before they finished their interview.






*well, of course, you always get the occasional bad apple...

[friendofjimmyk]

wow. I mean, just....wow.

See, she probably mistakes her craziness and over-zealousness as confidence. I mean, be confident that you will get the job, but don't start making changes before you've even started filling out an application.

[HawaiianShirts]

I have to give the woman credit for being bold, I guess. Crazy, but bold.

SC: I'm sorry I'm asking you so many questions. I just wanted to know a little bit more about you for when you start working for me.
Me: I start working for you?
SC: Well...I have a lot of management experience. I'm going to be in charge.
Me: Oh...right.

This is where I would have burst out laughing. And, of course, she'd probably have threatened to fire me on the spot. I'm almost hoping she comes back and gets mad about not getting the job and tries to do something silly like fire the owner.

I've had three work experiences where someone was hired basically off the street to be some kind of superior to me. Not a one of them lasted more than two months at the job. Although one of my current managers was hired as part-time and moved right up the ladder in about eight months just because of conveniently-timed openings and his obvious retail leadership experience (he's one of the managers nearly everybody likes).

SC:OK...I'll just fill this in...you know...just for the formality.

I actually got my first job delivering pizza this way. Granted, it was nowhere near management, but I did it. I walked in and asked for the owner--I'll call him Mr. D. for this story--by name (I had a friend who worked there and told me who the owner was and when he'd be working).

Me: Hello, Mr. D., my name is HawaiianShirts. I would like a job.
Mr. D.: Okay. There are applications at the counter.
Me: (in a tone that suggested I was just explaining my intentions) No, I don't want an application. I want a job.
Mr. D.: ... Do you have a car?
Me: Yes.
Mr. D.: Does it run?
Me: Yes.
Mr. D.: Is it insured?
Me: Yes.
Mr. D.: When can you start?
Me: Tomorrow.
Mr. D.: Great. Do me a favor, though, and fill out an application anyway, just so we can have one on file for you.

And that was that. But that's still a far cry from waltzing up to an employee, giving THEM an interview, and proclaiming the inevitable overthrow of the current owner.

[Rhania506]

Am I an SC??

Recently, I've been looking for a job with any local computer company. So I have been calling the businesses listed in the phone book under that category and asking whoever answered for the name of their human resources person. If they asked why, I say because I would like to know where to send my resume. Most places are willing to give me that information (and I got a few interviews out of the deal), but some seem reluctant or confused.

Am I an SC??

~Rhania

[Rapscallion]

If you're doing that politely and with a reasonable amount of follow-up, then you're fine. HR departments get cold called all the time - it goes with the territory. Marching in and insisting that you're going to have a high-level position by the end of the week is a touch rum.

Rapscallion