An Interview with a Robot

*NOTE- If you are looking for my writing prompt, scroll to the next entry!*

 

So this morning was my phone interview.  I think that it went very well… I think… you see, there is no way of knowing because I interviewed with a robot.  Allow me to explain.

When the interviewer called me she introduced herself and then told me that this was a structured interview.  She would be asking me a series of questions and then pause for me to respond. This would take between 45-60minutes depending on how long it took me to answer each question.  She could not elaborate or clarify any question, she could only repeat it.  “ok” I thought… this should be easy.  No.  It might have been one of my hardest interviews to date (and I’ve had a few).  Imagine someone asking you questions in a totally monotone voice and then pausing for you to answer but giving you absolutely no acknowledgement on your answer.  Not an “uh huh” “ok” “yeah” “I understand”… nothing, just move on to the next question.  SO FREAKING WEIRD! And this went on for 40 minutes.  I guess I’m a fast talker… or I don’t explain enough. 

Something else that was weird was that she didn’t ask me any questions about why I want to work there or what I could bring to the company.  They didn’t even ask the old standard interview question, “tell me what your strengths and weaknesses are”.  There WAS, however, one question that asked if I considered myself “addicted to smiling.” To this I answered, “well I do tend to smile at complete strangers and I feel like they think I’m crazy, so yes, I guess I am”  This is actually true though.  I DO smile at strangers because of all of my sales training I’ve had.  “As soon as a customer walks through the door smile and greet them, if you can’t greet them verbally, greet them with your smile”.  GAG In any case, that’s why I think I smile at random people when I walk through a store, at some subconscious level, I think I’m working there.  (NOTE- Do not wear a red shirt of any kind to Target, everyone will think you work there, and you don’t want to run into a neighbor while you’re giving someone directions to the adult diapers just because you happen to know where they are.)

At the end of the interview when she turned back into a human, she told me that all my information and interview will be submitted to the hiring manager and if they would like me to proceed with the interviewing process they will let me know in a week or two.  Wow, I hope I don’t have to wait that long!

Well, I should go, “I have work to do”… not.