I am an idiot who will be unemployed forever.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Sigh. I’m an idiot. Go me!

I was on vacation last week, and came back to a message from a woman who wanted me to call her back. Now, a few things to note: a) the company she worked with had to do with psychology (which I majored in) so I figured it was about a job, but b) I didn’t recognize the company name as somewhere I had applied. Mostly because c) the company was based in a city that was about 3 hours from me.

I found out all the information about the company by looking it up online. I was familiar with the area because I went to college near there, so I assumed the lady had somehow gotten my resume from Monster.com or something even though I had only been searching locally.

Today I gave the woman a call, she wasn’t in, so I left her a message and went about my daily business. She calls back about 4:30, while I’m mowing the lawn. So when she calls I’m a bit tired, hot, sweaty, etc. Not exactly in the best frame of mind.

The call goes something like this.

“Hi, is Mr. Pollux Oil there?”
“Yes, this is he.”
“Hi, this is Ms. Job Opportunity Lady. I got your message earlier and was wondering if you were still interested in the job you applied for.”

At this point my brain freezes up. I had no recollection of applying to this company, and after double-checking after the phone call I still have no idea how this lady got my resume because I definitely did not send them an application. Now, there are plenty of ways I should have responded. Instead, I said:

“Well, about that. I’m from the X area and when I was looking at your website I noticed you’re in the Y area. I don’t recall applying for any jobs in the Y area, but I am interested in your company.”

:smack:

After a little bit more discussion about how she obtained my resume, the woman on the other end says:

“Well, I can see you’re a bit confused about this so I’ll…”
“No no! I’m still interested in the job opportunity. I’d like to know more about it.”
“Well, looking at your resume, your degree could get you an interview but I don’t think this is what you’re interested in.”

She then went on to explain what the job would entail, but that statement pretty much clued me in that this particular phone call and job opportunity was a lost cause.

:frowning:

As soon as the phone call was over I started kicking myself. I’m debating whether to call the lady back tomorrow and try to remove my foot from my mouth, but I think it’s too late for that. And I STILL don’t know how she got a hold of my resume! It was a decent job too. ARGH.

2

How very Jedi of her - “this is not the job you are looking for…” Never mind, it probably wasn’t. Best of luck anyway, I’m sure something will come along soon - just remember to keep in regular contact with all your recruitment agents.

3

Look, no one calls you and offers you something unless they suck. That’s the way it is.

If you were such a hot job prospect people call you, you’d know you were that hot of a job prospect and wouldn’t have to post about it here.

4

I once got a job that, to this day, I have no memory of applying for. It started out much the same way “We were wondering if you were still interested in a job.”

Of course, I just lied through my teeth and said I definitely was. Had to go to the interview to find out exactly what it was I was applying to be. (Nothing special, job at a cell phone store).

I doubt I’ll ever figure out where or when I applied.

5

Why not just start all over and reapply for the job that you didn’t apply for? Maybe she’ll have forgotten about the call by the time your app crosses her desk.

It’s possible she got your app from someone she knows at a different company. I don’t know the ethics of sharing resumes, but I imagine it’s done.

6

I once worked in an office where there was a rumor that a few of the guys had put their heads together and sent in an application for a co-worker. The co-worker had been driving them nuts. He didn’t remember applying for the job, but he went to the interview, got the job, and left. According to legend, everyone was happy.

Not that I’m suggesting that this has happened to anyone else.

7

Mr. brown recently did a job search. That is, I sent out lots of resumes on his behalf, as I’m more adept at internet searching, prying for jobs and obsequious cover letter composition. He got more than one call from people I’m positive received no resume from me, and they weren’t headhunters or temp agencies, either. My bet is that HR folks share resumes with their lunching buds from another firm.

8

There’s always politics – it’s kept George W. Bush off the streets the last 15 or so years, and there’s no way you’re a bigger idiot than he is. :smiley:

9

I once was on a gig working shoulder to shoulder with a company that was a competitor to mine. Whenever I got a call from a headhunter for jobs that I was not really interested in, I would give them the name & phone numbers for all the people from the competing firm. I never saw anyone actually leave for a new gig while I was there, but it sure was fun doing that.

10

“You’re not that interested in us” is their way of telling you “we’re not that interested in you.” Their ideal candidate is probably someone desperate enough to relocate for a job about which s/he knows little, especially as far as salary and benefits.

You’re not likely to be unemployed “forever,” though, only until the job market improves somewhat and employers demand a little less total sacrifice from their new hires.

11

Don’t feel bad. You won’t be unemployed forever :smiley:

12

If you are unemployed, what were you on vacation from?

13

Vacation from looking for a job, I guess. :cool:

14

Yeah, you have to die eventually.

Although I guess technically the dead are unemployed. Except for the occasional election day gig in Chicago.