28 July 2006
It's Friday afternoon. We are happily winding down for the weekend. The phone rings. The Caller Display says external. I answer... in my usual friendly tone..."Nick Warren"
The is a short gap and I hear that the connection is bad. Then a lady speaks, english is not her first language.
"I need to speak to Mr Nick Wawen"
"Yes, that's me"
"Mr Nick Wawen I am calling you to extend you an invitation..."
Alarm bells are going off. She has made the rookie mistake of addressing me as mister, which means that a) I have never met her and b) she has nothing more than a name in front of her. (Anyone who had bothered to research Semantic would have known I am not a mister!) *
Secondly she's reading from a script... so I know we are not interested. But she's been trained to read so quickly that I can't can't get a word in...
"... an invitation because I represent <forgettable name> and we are offering you the opportunity to come to Venice in October for a conference that will be held at a casino hotel for all of the important decision makers and events makers in Europe to be held at..."
In the end she's forced to breath so I get my chance.
"Thank-you, but let me save you some time, I'm not interested thanks."
"But how can you not be interested when I haven't finished telling you about our invitation which is for you and a guest to spend three nights..."
She's being rude now, which is a mistake. As I've written elsewhere I have a problem with rudeness.
"No. Thanks. I am really not interested".
Surprisingly she goes for it again, unaware or uncaring that her sales call is going down in flames.
"Well Mr Wawen I think that you should consider how this opportunity..."
"No, please listen to me. I AM NOT INTERESTED THANK-YOU"
The capitals make this look loud but I was still being really polite. There is a short pause, then. she said...
"WELL ACTUALLY I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU DESERVE IT!"
And put the phone down.
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*Chris started his application letter with 'Greeting Web Wizards', which I thought illustrated a certain amount of bravery/nuttiness on his part... but it got him the interview and the interview got him the job.
Posted by Nick Warren at 4:06 PM
