Friday, October 14, 2005 - Lucky number Seven

I went for job interview number seven yesterday. Well it really wasn't an interview more like an exercise in time wasting really. The company called me and in looking at their website it seemed like a good fit, they manufacture batteries for mostly computer equipment and some other secondary markets. Perfect I thought since I have both computer and power source ( power supplies) experience, as I went through the companies website.

The building looked proffessional enough as I entered the interview and chatted briefly with the first guy, he then went to get the 'CEO' who also had the same last name as the first guy, neither of which gentlemen even gave me a business card when I requested.

To cut a long story short there did not seem to be a job on offer.  In talking with them I soon learned that the company had no sales organization and were a family owned Chinese business looking to build on existing business gained by reverse engineering competitors products.

I concluded they had made me do the 45 mile round trip drive merely to pick my brains ( and were sorely disappointed as are most people who try this tactic with me). They were looking for someone who could walk them into US accounts or as the 'CEO' put it ' buy someone's rolodex'. Even if I had strong contacts within US manufacturing companies I got the distinct inpression the intent was to get the business before ' fucking off ' the salesperson after getting him to open doors.

 If they had bothered to read my resume they might have noticed my experience for the last 7 years is in managing the agents and distributors Internationally for my last company OUTSIDE the US.

 I really felt like asking them for my gas money at the conclusion of the so called interview...........