Three Kinds of People.

Hong Kong 2010, with my amazing friends.

When I was young, I was told that I would be able to see the real world only after I start working. I thought I have seen enough, hence I never believe in that. Now, I will be telling the younger ones, that you would only be able to see the real world after you start working.

I decided to take up a job after rotting at home for about three months. After some searching and contemplating, I made up my mind to work in one of the biggest contact centers in Asia, based in KL, as a recruitment associate.

The job itself is not hard, because the responsibilities you have are not that many. It might sound easy and relaxing, but the true fact is that you are working in one of the most demanding department in any corporation - the Human Resources Department. It is horrible.

Let's skip the existing staff part and jump to the massive recruitment drives that the contact center has. Since young, I'm pretty sure that each of us are taught to take interviews seriously and be punctual for interviews and I thought the same too. I assume that each of us takes it so seriously that people would not want to miss it, or even be late for it. After working for just one week, I beg to differ.

Speaking of taking interviews seriously, you will meet three kinds of people. I am not going to go further on who are they, but lets name it A (65%), B(26%) and C (7%) . The As would sound extremely enthusiastic about your job offer and ask you instantly "Interview, when?" over the phone. The Bs would at least pause momentarily and think, and usually you will get this reply "Would you mind sending me some further details to my email?" and you never get replies from them. Well, for Cs, you have a good mix of the As and the Bs, so it balances off.

So everything went on smoothly till the interview day, 30% of the As would actually turn up and the remainder will not. Going further, out of the 70%, 60% would actually prefer to be absent and not telling you, perhaps to keep you waiting, like creating some suspense over it. The 10% would usually either email you or call you and inform you, like half an hour before the interview and inform you that they have :

1. Personal Problems

2. Emergency

3. Motorcycle/Car broke down

4. Aunty passed away

5. Grandparents passed away

6. Back to hometown due to problems

7. Combination of the above, like having an emergency due to personal problems.

*They really have loads of problems, I wonder why.

The Bs will usually turn up after scheduling them for interview, but for those who never turn up, they will inform you and tell you:

1. I have better offer

2. Personal Problems

3. Someone offered me 100 bucks extra

4. I'm interested but salary too low (Which literally means you are not interested -.-)

*They think they are so great that everyone is fighting for them and pay them sky high salary.

The Cs will usually tell you that they would be coming, even you gave them a call like 2 hours before interview to remind them that there is an interview. They will add in nice things like

1. Thank you for giving me this opportunity

2. I'm so glad you called me up

3. Thanks for the reminder

4. I'll be there right on time

After confirming attendances, the Cs will not turn up for the interview. When you do a follow up, you will get reasons similar to the As.

*The group that gives you false hope the most.

-To be continued. -