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Saturday, June 02, 2007
How do you respond to THAT?!
Brutally unhappy with the way things are going, I've decided to apply to jobs that are way outside my field, just for the off chance that something cool will hit me. You would not believe some of the INSANE things people have asked me during interviews. My temper is starting to fray.
I had a first interview at a local non profit that deals with underprivledged children - not my forte, but something new. Both women that interviewed me were of indian descent. They asked me, "How do you work with people of color?'
a) I worked with an international multi ethnic, multi racial South African organization, and I've lived abroad - it's on my resume, read it. b) Why should I treat you any differently because you're indian, black or Chinese? Are you crazed? c) would you ask this question to me if I weren't white? Is is appropriate for me to ask how you work with white people?
I was interviewing with a French company, where the primary language spoken is French... Interesting, n'est pas? I haven't spoken french in several years, but it is something that I used to do, and I would love to pick it back up. I also lived and interned in France. Underline, intern, as in: worked in a professional organization in France, spoke french, interacted with French people on a daily basis. The woman interviewing me asked what differences that I noticed between French and American workplaces. As all of my workplaces have been more than slightly dysfunctional I really wasn't sure how to answer this. My response, "The french have a high level of professional politess, and I noticed a more relaxed atmosphere."
HER counter response, "What I was looking for was how you say hello to french people at the office"
Me: "Bonjour?"
Her: What if someone is on the phone?
Me: Bonjour?
Her: Do you interrupt their phone call?
Me: (Thinking "where the HELL is this going?) I don't interupt, but make eye contact to indicate that I notice them?
Her: You don't interrupt to say Bonjour?
Me: Umm...no
Her: In french workplaces you must say Bonjour to everyone. If you don't it's considered a gross insult.
me: I wouldn't want to interrupt a phone call to say bonjour
her: There are many people you pass in the hallways and in your office that you don't say bonjour to in the United States, in France it is very important that you say bonjour to everyone.
Me: I worked in non profit in FRANCE. I didn't have a problem with any of my colleagues, especially over saying bonjour.
Her: Did you say bonjour to the whole office when you entered for the day?
me: (This has to be a wind up, we can NOT be seriously talking about the bonjour protocal) The office was one open room, and there were no individual offices, it was quite easy to say Bonjour to everyone.
Her: Did you insult anyone by not saying Bonjour?
Me: Ma'am, I worked in a very casual non profit environment where I recorded donations and translated materials from french to english. I did not have a problem with anyone, EVER.
Her: What about your superiors?
Me: (OK, ready to hang up now, the woman is obviously mad) I was an intern, everyone was my superior, and I did NOT have a problem with any of them. And I said bonjour to them.
This went on for at least seven minutes. I know this because I started timing how long we were speaking about saying bonjour. (I was over my cell phone minutes, 5 bucks spent on bonjour.)
Finally, at a second interview at yet another children's non profit, where I had already passed both the phone and the first interview process, I was asked. Can you write?
For the record. I can write. |
posted by Tree Trunk Ho Slappa
13:19
 
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