I had always wanted to know what else I could do with the talents God gave me and I thought with my professional background and my strong Christian beliefs I would be a wonderful candidate for World Vision Canada call center in Mississauga.
With excitement and anticipation I went to the interview with all smiles praising the lord for this wonderful opportunity.
A thin built medium height woman with very curly shoulder strawberry blond hair entered and called my name from the reception area. She did not introduce herself and did not even smile. I said Hello are you so and so how are you? This was the call center manager!!! So I reached out to shake her hand with all smiles. With her lack of cordial manners she barely raised her hand to meet mine. This impression gives the guest or the candidate that they are unwanted and the interview is being forced on them. The call center manager gave me a lax and limp hand shake. I must not me judgemental! So I thought maybe she has a disability, or had injured her hand or was not feeling well. So I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
She ushered me in and I followed her as if she was the butler for this establishment? She opened a heavy office door and held it open for me to pass through. Then she repeated this again with another heavy office door until I was led into a DARK LOW LIGHTED training room with desk and lap tops. How are you suppose to see the laptop keyboard? I was told to sit at the last desk. Ok, this felt like I was back in elementary school and I had did something wrong. Wow! I did not wear strong fragrance or have any pungent odor on my body.
Then she sat at the front of the training room which is a good 10 feet away from me. Then she proceeded in a WHISPERING voice to ask me the interview questions. I had to really concentrate on what she was saying and even asked her to repeat some of the questions. (My first and only language spoken and written is English as it is was my parents and grandparents). And I like to think I have excellent hearing.
She kept on saying this is a "CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION". Aside "Yes of course it is; that is why I applied". I'm not sure what she was trying to emphasis from this deliberate patronizing declaration. Did she not believe I was a Christian? Did she want to see the cross that I wear around my neck? Or my cross key chain? I wore professional business attire to the interview. Did she want me to recite some of my beloved verses from the Bible?
The exit interview was a replica of the introduction interview. She ushered me out and I followed her as if she was the butler for this establishment? She opened a heavy office door and held it open for me to pass through. Then she repeated this again with another heavy office door, until I was in the reception area once again. So once again I reached out to shake her hand with all smiles before I left world vision. I told her to take care and thank you for the interview. She gave me NO verbal exit pleasantries. With her lack of cordial manners she barely raised her hand again to meet mine and gave me a final lax and limp hand shake.
I have never in my life been to an interview and repeatedly been offended with an ungracious and unprofessional person. And this was a world renowned Canadian Christian organization?
I did not get this position and I am blessed in that. To have to work with someone like this would be a challenge especially when I expect so much more from professed Christians. First impressions works both ways; for the establishment and their staff. This position was only for part-time midnight call center shift and would have been nice to have for a secondary job. World Vision definitely left a dishonourable impression on me.
Not to worry folks, I got a full time job at wonderful organization with super friendly staff and management with great hours.
God bless! read more