MetaChat - More about jobs & neurosis. This time in whine.

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26 January 2006

More about jobs & neurosis. This time in whine. →[More:]

So I have the closing date for the house & that means I have to start looking for a job. A friend of mine got in touch with some people for me, and now I have to call them up to try to set up an interview. But I find being on the phone excrutiating and scary. So it's day two of trying to work up the nerve to call and not letting my friend's help go to waste. Sigh.

post by: dame at: 14:59 | 48 comments

I thought you already had a job

posted by jonmc 26 January | 15:11

How about some roleplaying? Pretend you're ___ then get on the phone...

posted by porpoise 26 January | 15:13

I need a job that actually pays real money. On time.

posted by dame 26 January | 15:14

If you want I can set you up with a temp firm that will take Advantage of you.

posted by Hugh Janus 26 January | 15:17

errrr... for an interview, anyway.

posted by Hugh Janus 26 January | 15:18

Ah, dame. I hate the phone, too. You just have to make the move and do it. The anticipation is way worse than the act itself. Do it!

posted by jrossi4r 26 January | 15:21

But I find being on the phone excrutiating and scary

Pips is the same way. She always makes me order food.

posted by jonmc 26 January | 15:25

Thanks, Hugh, I may take you up on that in the future. For now, I'm just looking around. I have the time to hold out for a job I like, which is why I'm starting now.

*deep breath* must. pick. up. phone.

posted by dame 26 January | 15:26

Where's TPS? Sounds like someone needs a cheer.

posted by richat 26 January | 15:30

I can't believe the most amazing Damealicious has phone fright! Listen, the best thing to remember on a cold-call thing is to realize you have all the control, not the other way around. The worst that can happen is a No, which will never be as bad as you think it will. And won't do anything worse to you than your current situation. The entire conversation will be about 30 secs - a minute of your time. And you're worth that!

Just be polite, mention your friend's reference and ask about what they need to hear more about you. You Have All The Power on Your Side - you'll do just fine, Dame. Seriously.

If it means anything, I got a sudden phone interview this a.m. from a company with no warning - I was still in my sweats and hadn't even finished my first cup of coffee! Talk about flop stress!

Go get 'em sister.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 26 January | 15:30

In lieu of an actual cheer, dame, I offer my sincere belief that you will be able to make the call. I have known you to answer the phone a number of times while in IRC. This is the same, just in reverse.

Also, I think you will find someplace that needs a narcissistic smart girl who can swim really well.

posted by richat 26 January | 15:32

Also, I think you will find someplace that needs a narcissistic smart girl who can swim really well.

What a coincidence. McNally's All-Nude Underwater Physics Ballet is taking applications for it's traveling company.

posted by jonmc 26 January | 15:35

Do you have healthcare?

posted by dame 26 January | 15:39

::picks up pom-poms conveniently stashed at work::

Go on girl, you're not alone!
Go on girl, pick up that phone!

You'll get a job
And get real rich
You'll run the world
You sexy bitch!

Goooooooooooooooooo dame! ::21 cartwheels in a row::

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 January | 15:40

Also, TPS, the people on my phone normally are people I know. Those people are okay.

*looks at phone* *takes breath* *looks at phone* *promises self not to post again until the task is done*

posted by dame 26 January | 15:40

Do you have healthcare?

yes. but we mostly prescribe hydrotherapy.

posted by jonmc 26 January | 15:42

*taps fingers*

posted by richat 26 January | 15:43

scratch that.

*drums fingers nervously*

posted by richat 26 January | 15:46

It was terrible. There was voicemail. Too many "ums."

*slinks away, humiliated*

posted by dame 26 January | 15:47

But really, who gives good phone? All that matters is making the call.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 January | 15:48

Everyone ums. Call back tomorrow and pretend you are calling from the future and you already know the outcome of the call and you must, above all, not give that fact away.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 15:49

But really, who gives good phone?

People who make enough money to actually afford their homes?

I'm also peterified about moving. And I've been swimming terribly and I have a feeling this meet will be a disaster. Can I give up now?

posted by dame 26 January | 15:51

I'm also peterified

must..not..make..joke..

*head asplodes*

posted by jonmc 26 January | 15:53

You can if you like, but I heard the first 50 people who don't give up get a Speedo sponsorship in secular afterlife, which is worth bearing in mind.

Remember what Cool Hand Luke said.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 15:54

Yeah, well, the self-loathing well is full, so you'll have to save your comments on how my typing puts into question my worth for the very work I seek some other time. And I know that's an ugly sentence. I don't care.

posted by dame 26 January | 15:55

Phone phobia is amazingly common, even among professionals. Used to think I was the only one whose palms would start to perspire at the mere thought of calling a restaurant to ask when they close. They'll hate me! I'm bothering them!

I've used every trick listed here: roleplaying ("I'm the kind of person who makes phone calls! Here I go!"); setting a deadline and biting the bullet; pretending I know the outcome already (aka, Jedi mind trick); picturing the person answering to be a weak little ninny. They all work well enough.

Anyway, you got voice mail. Voice mail is so much better! No small talk, no leaving spaces for them to say things. Complete control. I'm sure you did fine!

posted by Miko 26 January | 15:58

No Cool Hand Luke said:

"You gone have to kill me."

When asked if he was ready to quit.

Plus come on, a typo from Dame? That's like seeing Halleys comet. You get one in a lifetime, two if you eat a lot of veggies.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 16:00

You have reached C3PO and R2D2. These aren't the droids you are looking for. Please leave a message at the sound of the beep-boop-doop-beep.

posted by matildaben 26 January | 16:02

Dame, is it an option that you can set up an appointment with them initially, then go and see them in person?

posted by urbanwhaleshark 26 January | 16:02

(dame, I wasn't making fun of you, I was makeing fun of me and my tendency towards peuril humor, sorry bout that)

posted by jonmc 26 January | 16:03

Plus come on, a typo from Dame? That's like seeing Halleys comet. You get one in a lifetime, two if you eat a lot of veggies.

Wino, your wit is super mega quick. It's a delight.

And, dame, relax. You made the call.

posted by richat 26 January | 16:05

You rock, dame.

posted by Hugh Janus 26 January | 16:05

Awwww, all you guys is gonna rot my teeth.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 16:18

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Hugh Janus 26 January | 16:23

I've eaten a lot of sugar yesterday and today. I feel gross.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 January | 16:26

Dame, is it an option that you can set up an appointment with them initially, then go and see them in person?

That's the idea. If they ever call me back. Which they won't seeing as I left the worst voicemail ever. Really, that call went as badly as it possibly could have, short of them outright laughing at me.

posted by dame 26 January | 16:26

I hope it goes well. If your editorial commitment and tenacity are anything to go by, theyd be foolish not to give you the opportunity to sit down and chew the fat. Good luck, you lovable tree-hater.

posted by urbanwhaleshark 26 January | 16:31

It was not the worst call ever, the worst call ever was on a conference call with a client at my old job where I strongly implied that a coworker was rather clearly inbred and offered to email everyone a powerpoint that would prove it. That was a bad, bad call. Very awkward.

You will be fine.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 16:32

Go Pink, don't feel that bad
MeCha boys and girls all think youre rad

Gooooo! Pink!

posted by urbanwhaleshark 26 January | 16:34

(jus' biggin' it up for the Penis Massif, yo)

posted by urbanwhaleshark 26 January | 16:36

I, too, have phone phobia. *phew* You are not alone.

posted by mygothlaundry 26 January | 16:43

You know what else sucks? My mother, the person who has been on my case to get a new job for years, can't even be sympathetic when I tell her this bothers me. Gah. Back to chainsmoking & self-loathing.

(Thank you all for being very nice. I know sulking and whining is ugly, but this really upsets me for some stupid reason.)

posted by dame 26 January | 16:48

Go spit out the window for a while, sometimes ugly is what you gotta be.

posted by Divine_Wino 26 January | 16:54

Me, I'll be shitting in a few minutes.

posted by Hugh Janus 26 January | 16:58

Feel the fear and do it anyway! Eleanor Roosevelt said, Do one thing every day that scares you. After you conquer phone phobia, what else is there?

May the force be with you. I have faith.

posted by chewatadistance 26 January | 17:05

Try this trick. Picture yourself naked while making the phonecall.

posted by sarah connor 26 January | 17:21

Gah, phone-fear is awful. I can't bring myself to answer the phone let alone make calls.

One trick I came up with is making a script. Not really a complete script, just good notes on what I want to say. Yeah, even the greeting.

posted by deborah 26 January | 18:07

The entire conversation will be about 30 secs - a minute of your time.

What the fuck freaky timezone do you live in?

posted by orthogonality 26 January | 18:19

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