On the email invite, look sharp was highlighted in bold and the same statement was echoed out via a phone conversation…and so I did.
I walked into the room and even before I sat down, the gentleman told me that I was overqualified. He then introduced himself and interviewed me.
Two days later, I received an invite for the second interview. Later that evening, the gentleman who interviewed me called me and asked to meet me ‘now now’. I could not show up for the impromptu meeting with a stranger so we agreed that he would call me the next day, Saturday, after work.
I think throughout the phone conversation I was not thinking straight but after the call, my mind began wondering. I had so many questions. I could not understand why he wanted to meet me outside the office and after work hours yet I had spent like 2 hours in their offices. We even enjoyed a cup of tea at the lounge area but he had nothing to say so why now?
The word of God clearly warns us against judging people so when my mind started thinking of all possible reasons for the meeting, I decided to consult. I called my brother, then my dad, then a few friends. I then decided to pray about it for God’s guidance.
There I was, I had aced an interview…I was soon going to have a new song or so I thought.
Come Saturday afternoon, the interviewer did not call me and I took it as a sign from God. I was so happy that he had not called. After preparing dinner that evening, I saw my phone blinking, and on checking it was his missed call. It was late and there was no way I could return the call. I decided not to return the call at all because I had a bad feeling about it.
Tuesday, 8.17 AM, I received a call from his office asking me to be in the office by 9.30 AM the same day.
I told the lady that I would try my best to be there in the shortest time possible. So I prepared myself and called a cab and was there by 10.00 AM.
I waited for the interviewer for roughly 20 minutes because he was busy and when I was finally invited to his office, I read an entire newspaper as I waited for him to end his phone conversations…something to do with cargo clearance at the port.
I told the lady that I would try my best to be there in the shortest time possible. So I prepared myself and called a cab and was there by 10.00 AM.
I waited for the interviewer for roughly 20 minutes because he was busy and when I was finally invited to his office, I read an entire newspaper as I waited for him to end his phone conversations…something to do with cargo clearance at the port.
When he was finally free, the first question he asked was why I did not pick his call on Saturday. Well; by the time I saw the notification, it was too late to return the call. And this is how the conversation went without him making any eye contact, “Since you refused to meet me and do what I wanted, will you pay me Ksh.30000 now so that I give you the job? I am not going to beat around the bush. You know the MD wanted me to hire XYZ but as his PA I can change things around here. You are beautiful, I have a say and I want to take you instead. XYZ had even asked for a lower salary. Do you accept to give me the money so that we sign the job contract?”
I did not expect that 😲😲😲😲😲
I had gone through samples of interview questions and answers for that position but I had not planned any response for this kind of question. I rephrased the question just to be sure I had heard the right thing. I took a deep breath, looked at the many medals and trophies in that office, admired the classy cars on the ground floor, watched the guys polishing cars through the glass walls, read the headline on the newspaper over and over again, I wanted to take my phone and text a friend to ask for an answer, I wished God could give me an answer. There I was confused and angry. I have been jobless for 3 months, there is a job offer but with conditions. What to do?
I had gone through samples of interview questions and answers for that position but I had not planned any response for this kind of question. I rephrased the question just to be sure I had heard the right thing. I took a deep breath, looked at the many medals and trophies in that office, admired the classy cars on the ground floor, watched the guys polishing cars through the glass walls, read the headline on the newspaper over and over again, I wanted to take my phone and text a friend to ask for an answer, I wished God could give me an answer. There I was confused and angry. I have been jobless for 3 months, there is a job offer but with conditions. What to do?
Read Also: Tips For Handling An Irate Customer
This experience took me back to some point in my career when I was about to resign because a senior manager in our organization was frustrating me because I refused his advances and drink dates on Friday’s. My productivity at work, how I interacted with colleagues, and passion for my job was really affected. I kept to myself yet my job was more of interacting with people. But this changed when finally a senior manager in my department noticed a change in me and called me for a one-on-one, I opened up and he gave me advice and after implementing the advice; I became better and knew how to handle the guy frustrating me. This experience was more of hostile work environment harassment while the one with the interviewer is more of quid pro quo harassment.
How does harassment affect service delivery?
Decreased productivity or output at work
More often than not, people will not put their best foot forward when they are stressed up. I have seen colleagues coming to work and watching movies all day, sleeping on the desk, chatting on the phone or just sitting and doing nothing just because they have something bothering them.
This, in turn, means that customer queries take longer to be handled and thus affecting the service level and response rate.
It also has a negative impact on the victim’s career trajectory.
More often than not, people will not put their best foot forward when they are stressed up. I have seen colleagues coming to work and watching movies all day, sleeping on the desk, chatting on the phone or just sitting and doing nothing just because they have something bothering them.
This, in turn, means that customer queries take longer to be handled and thus affecting the service level and response rate.
It also has a negative impact on the victim’s career trajectory.
Grumpy employees
In my opinion, this is the worst thing that can happen to a person in a customer-facing role because there are very high chances of the customer service professionals getting into arguments with customers moreso the irate ones.
I have also seen colleagues getting into petty arguments because one of them was having a bad day or had a bad night at home.
In my opinion, this is the worst thing that can happen to a person in a customer-facing role because there are very high chances of the customer service professionals getting into arguments with customers moreso the irate ones.
I have also seen colleagues getting into petty arguments because one of them was having a bad day or had a bad night at home.
