50/365

Job Interviews! MY GOD, what a trouble.

The problem's not with giving one, it's more of- networking, meeting with new company owners/HRs; but sometimes - coming across jerks. JERKS, I mean it.

A while ago, I met with this person who's in a reputed position in a mildly reputed agency via LinkedIn. 

I put up a -"Open to Work" post and I received a message related to an interview with this company via a Zoom call. It was in a similar field to what I was looking at, so naturally, I gave in. Initially, when the call started, it followed with my introduction, work experience, and salary expectations, and then came this question- "This role involves travel from time to time, are you comfortable with that?" to which I said "Yes" as I have traveled for work before, I was comfortable with it. Out of nowhere this man starts talking about- "You will be taking our clients out for dinner and you would be hosting them" followed by "Are you ready or rather comfortable with compromises?"
I was stunned.

I asked, "Compromises, as in?" This man went ahead with - "Sometimes the parents are not comfortable with the child to travel for work so there come restrictions or some request for one of the parents to travel along- " which I understand. There are parents or rather children themselves who are not comfortable with travelling; I proceed with "As long as the environment or the people I work with are secure, I think I'm good". 

He surfaced back to the "compromise" word A LOT.

(For eg- there are certain compromises that you might have to make because you will be expected to crack the deal with the client / are you ready for minor compromises) - Initially, I thought that he was just misusing the word until I realized,  that's literally what he meant. 

I hung up. Disgusted. In denial.

Post the interview, I called one of my female friends, and guess what? She's  been through similar situations where she's come across people at higher positions just being shitty to her or asking something of her she wasn't willing to do or rather put her in a position she was not comfortable in. 

That was when it hit me- I wasn't alone. I spoke to a few more & they faced this in different ways. Different experiences, losing sane.

You may think - Why didn't you scan the company well or research thoroughly about it?
- I DID and to me; it seemed decent. Nothing seemed off until I told my partner about it and he instantly pointed out the details of it being the other way around AFTER I was finished with the interview. Big Mistake. I wish I told him prior. 

I’d like to believe that there are better workspaces for women out there but at least 1 out of those 100's turn out like this. Or in some cases, more than 1. 5?

When would there be a world where women are treated with respect for the work that they bring to the table and not stared at through & through by the eyes of the devil.

I am not saying I’m not at fault- I am, I wish I did better research rather than rushing to just get a job but I also wish that me walking in a room without being stared at for the way that I look or the way that I dress did not matter more than the work I’d bring in. 

I wish, I wish I could build one of these spaces for all the women out there;

If I could, I would but for now, I just want you to know that you’re not alone, I’m here.

- SK