Greys & Things

I work as an employment verifier.  I verify employment, check education and ask questions for character references.  I am on the phone a good part of the day.  I have been hung up on many times.  I don’t understand that since I am only helping a past co-worker or maybe even a friend pass through the screening process to getting a new job.

After three years of doing this type of work, I have developed somewhat of a thick skin when it comes to rude people.  I often wonder how the rude people keep their jobs especially in this economy.  I’m sure there are some friendly people out there who need a job.

Today, I was shocked by what happened when I called a company.  I called for a character reference.  A woman answered and said “I look better with something in my mouth.”  At first, I thought she was talking to someone else and just happened to pick up the phone while she was still speaking.  She then said “Hello?”  I said “Hello, is John there?”  She said, “yes, please hold.”  She then hung up on me.  I could have noted in the file what happened and moved on, but I decided to call back. I was curious.  John answered the phone this time.  He asked if I had just called.  I said I had.  He said he owed me an apology.  He said they thought it was a radio station calling and that is how they had to answer the phone to win concert tickets.  I could hear people laughing in the background.  He said they were all very embarrassed and he felt really bad for asking the receptionist to answer that way. We both laughed about it and we completed the verification.  I wonder how many other people were the victim of the radio station’s contest.  It was funny once I found out the reason behind it, but it definitely could be loosing customers for some companies.