Getting past the Receptionist

So one time, at band camp, I passed by the Receptionist’s desk and she asked me to sit in for her for a sec while she ran to the restroom. 

While she was doing her business, an applicant came in for a job that I had posted earlier in the week.  

Knew she was an applicant by the newness and anticipation shimmering off her.

After scoping out the foyer, her first stop was the Receptionist desk. 

The applicant strode over and stated imperiously that she was here for the job listed online. 

O.K., maybe I should have introduced myself right then and there but being a curious nature, I wanted to see what the applicant was like before I interviewed her.

Perhaps X-Men can make me one of their evil villains in their next flick. 

I would love that!

Anyway, I told her that someone would be right with her and handed the unsuspecting person an application to fill out while she waited. 

She took the application and asked to borrow a pen. (can I have the biggest font here?.........how can you go to an interview without a pen????? I mean really!!!) 

O.K. I’m over it.  I grudgingly handed her a pen.

She went to sit down in the waiting area to fill out the application. 

Crossing her legs and gently flicking her hair to the opposite shoulder as she bent in concentration over the clip board.

I waited for a minute.

Three breaths.... four.... five.

Nope not gonna happen. 

NOW I need the biggest font and BOLD….She didn’t even say thank you.  (I added the underline for good measure)

Are you kidding me? She didn’t even look up at me as I handed the pen to her.  

I was used as a virtual kid’s step stool to get higher up on the sink and then kicked aside swiftly by a stylish size six. 

Was I invisible to her? 

Is the Receptionist considered such an unimportant function or person that I am undeserving of even the most basic of manners?

Well, the real receptionist finally returned and I cheerfully changed places with her.

O.K. here is the fun part (maybe I really am evil). 

The applicant looked up from the clipboard and watched the exchange, not suspecting much but I sensed a slight shift in paradigm.

I walked over to her and told her that I would be right back with her for the interview. 

Sometimes I love my job.

THERE! 

Full backward slot machine mind action, along with a maximum face flush. 

I was quite satisfied with the reaction and the many gambling euphemisms.

So what happened next? Can you imagine a cartoon like action of kicking her out on her butt?

Sigh….Yeah, me too.  

But of course that’s not what happened.

I became the professional HR person that interviewed fairly 

(even though I personally enjoyed her verbally squirming out of the bad light she had already placed herself in my eyes).

So for many reasons, she did not get the job. 

I really don’t think that she expected to. 

I also think (or hope) that she would act differently on the next go ‘round somewhere else.

The point?  

Don’t forget your manners or ignore the people you pass in life. You never know who they are!

But enough of the Mama speech (that she obviously should have received but didn’t).

The real reason to be nice to the Receptionist is that the Receptionist can get you in. 

And not just in to see whoever you scheduled for.  

I can’t tell you the amount of times the receptionist has offered her opinion on an applicant.

 (Especially, if they are of the male persuasion). 

They will literarily beg me to interview them if they like him or her enough. 

Obviously, they want to work with people they like vs. not so they are willing to go out on a limb.

Don’t you want that person on your side right from the start? 

They already work where you want to! 

Be nice.

But not too chatty –you don’t want your potential future employer to think that you will stand around all day and easily shoot the sh*t when you should be working.

Walk that rope right and get to the other side.