The ad said it was a family business. It said the salary would be around $10/hr, but if you did good they would let you manage the showroom in about a year.
I’ve managed hundreds of people and overseen budgets of tens of millions of dollars, but I hoped maybe a small business would look less at my age and more at the experience and style I have and my ability to get along with customers in a sales setting.
I got a call and went to interview and met a pleasant young woman who seemed to be handling a lot administratively, and a factory rep for one of their product suppliers. They were pleasant but almost did not know what to ask me. I made it easy for them and told them why I was looking for work, why a small company was attractive to me, and that I would work hard and not leave shortly after starting to take a job that paid better.
Interestingly, a worker came in an chatted briefly, and it turns out he is the owner. Well, they told me there was a second interview process and was I interested? Sure I am.
They called a week or so later and arranged a time for the second interview. I arrived on time, and the interviewee scheduled before me was still there (very small front room in a converted house with no privacy) and telling the owner and the same other two individuals that he was interested, but would need lots of help and training.
My turn and I did very well of course. I told him I’d appreciate and pointers, but as far as product knowledge went, just point me towards the manuals and I’d learn it, and do not need anyone to read to me. He asked about marketing and how to do business development for this small company. I spent a good hour telling him about several ideas I had to build customer contact opportunities and utilize his existing records database as well as ideas on attracting new customers.
I left and expected a call the next day as I told him I’d accept an offer.
No call for 3 days.
Finally, he calls, and in an embarrassed and halting voice explains that I was a “general” and he said his humble little hot tub storefront needed a “soldier”. Was I in the same room as him when we talked? That was that. No offer. The job was reposted online almost exactly as before. Do you think they too good notes about how to build that business? Do you think that because everyone there was 25 to 35 years old made me stand out? What bullshit.
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Jeez…
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