I had to start questioning customer service after hearing things like a friend of mine say he got some pizza from Pizza Hut, but when he called to notify them the pizza was cold, they merely suggested he warm it up. I've also had some recent issues with Taco Cabana when it came to asking for something that should have already been included with my order. There is one incident that totally takes the cake though. It's funny how I enjoy telling this story at a party or to a friend here and there when the issue of customer service arises. This particular story takes place back in 2008 with a young hopeful who decides he wants to go to graduate school. Yes, the young hopeful is me, in case you haven't guessed that part yet.
Perhaps I didn't have the right questions prepared, or perhaps I should have done some research ahead of time so that I'd be a little more prepared. Silly me, when I enter an institute of higher learning, I guess I just expect to be welcomed with open arms and have information willingly thrown at me; afterall, this is the place I may decide to give my money to in exchange for an education. So it's spring 2008, and I decided since I was in the area, I would go onto the campus of this institution and get some information on their graduate programs, particularly something as it related to mass communication, as that was what I had majored in as an undergrad, but at a completely different university.
I walked into the admissions office and asked to speak to someone. I was told to have a seat, and that someone would be with me shortly. I looked around the office and noticed there were not other students around at that time. Maybe it was finals, maybe it was just late in the day. I remember it being sometime close to 4:00pm. Finally, a young woman comes out and calls my name. I didn't see another student walk out, so I know she wasn't helping anyone face-to-face. She had her own office and a name tag, and although her hair was a hot mess, I figured I'd trust her.
Big mistake....HUGE!
She began by asking what she could do for me. I told her that after almost four years in the workforce, I was considering graduate school to hopefully open more doors for me. I went over what I studied as an undergraduate and gave her an idea of what I was looking for in a graduate program. She didn't have much to say, but she was quick to throw a couple of websites at me and push me out the door. I can't quite say what the rush was. Maybe she had a hair appointment (her hair looked like shit, remember?), Maybe she had to get ready for a party (I had the unpleasant experience of actually running into her at a party once, and even there she looked like she could have used some advice from a stylist). Maybe she was just tired and wanted to get the hell home. Who knows, and who cares, right? Wrong. I cared.
It just really struck me. For someone who was supposed to be there to help and guide students, she really sucked at her job. Why was she there? Why did this institute think she was even qualified enough to talk to students, because frankly, in my opinion, she wasn't. She wasn't even qualified to be seen in public with that hair. If your job makes you miserable, perhaps its time to go. I left my last job for that same reason: I was miserable, I was rude, I couldn't take it anymore. But unlike the bitch at that university, I knew it was time for me to go.
From what I understand, that rude, unhelpful, messy person is still employed at the university where I finally graduated in 2011. Many of you who know me, know what institute I'm referring to, and you probably know the story well. I'm not going to name names, but if you're THAT curious, contact me and I'll give you all the details, which are sure to include every profane word you can think of. I recently heard a similar story, second hand, but I'm almost sure it's the same person because I know for sure it's the same university. It sucks that if good help is so hard to find, better help would be damn near impossible to get.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
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