What did I do wrong?
By gabrielle47
@gabrielle47 (1219)
Philippines
April 25, 2008 11:49am CST
Dear friends, I want to seek your opinion on this as I feel terrible right now. I hope you can shed light to what I'm going through now.
I have bid for a job as a freelancer and was well way in the interview and in the training process. The trainer mailed me for an 11pm training and what can I do but agree as it was suppose to be my first job. I did agree for a morning shift but did not for some reason a training at night. Later I also noticed that my rate was reduced to half even though I agreed to the rate, only then did I realized that she negotiatied for half of what I bid. I got depressed about it and was not enthusiastic anymore.
Later, the trainer and I were talking in chat and for a time, I was waiting for her to reply and then later she accused me of being uncooperative. I told her I replied but it maybe a problem of the chat server as some text don't go through based on my previous experience. The more she told me I'm being uncooperative and I told her if I'm not cooperating why would I come to be trained at this hour? Then she told me that she will not hire me but at the back of my mind, I will retract later as I was not happy how it was going and how assuming she was of me.
I ended the job before she did. I felt bad as it was supposed to be my first job and I fear to be rated negatively.
Am I right to feel this way as she was assuming of me being uncooperative and unresponsive? Also she told me I'm asking too many questions-- don't I have the right to ask? How would you feel if that happened to you? Thanks for responding to this...
« Gab »
3 people like this
16 responses
@surfette (673)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Please don't feel badly. From the sound of this conversation, I am wondering just how legitimate this company is. True recruiters and customer service people would not have treated you this way. The money issue is really kind of deceptive by only giving you half of what was promised.
It's just my opinion, but I think you are better off without this company. I know that there are other freelancer positions on the internet, so I would just try another company. Keep smiling. I'm sure you will find something better.
2 people like this
@gabrielle47 (1219)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
Thanks for the response. I dont know about the legitimacy of the company but as what I have found out is that the trainer was just hired before me at a low rate also. Thanks for the encouraging words.
@elsoft12 (1821)
• India
25 Apr 08
Well...Dont worry..I know its easy to say that ..but try not to worry about what has happened.Since it is your first attepmt at the freelancing job...make a note of the leesons you have learnt from it...and keep bidding for further job...Sometimes to start with you need to do jobs for smaller returns..However take them as a learning part and to get some positive ratings..that will help you start fast and land up in higher paying jobs gradually..This does need some time and hard work..thats the part of freelancing.
Now forget whos at fault with ..in your maiden attepmt and just move on...and try not to repeat the mistakes from your side..Be patient and keep learning and I am sure you will have a great future as a freelancer.
Good Luck.
@gabrielle47 (1219)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
Thanks Elsoft. I will take my learnings from it and hope I will find another job that will pay me well.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
what kind of place is this, have you checked to see if there are any complaints about this place, they do not sound too trustworthy to me.
@gabrielle47 (1219)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
Thanks for the response. Its a trustworthy site but the point is that trainer is just also hired by the customer and is really not the customer itself. Its a very legitimate site that I have been interviewed by other customers but none like that. That was my first unwanted encounter.
« Gab »
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
Well, do not let them get the best of you. How come they let you come in at such a weird time of the day... is it a call center open 24 hours?
for one, you have all the reason to be upset because you agreed to get a certain amount and they did not honor your agreement.
second, your boss, trainer was not professional for being so petty at telling you you will not be hired just because she did not get a response from you. how lame can that be?
make a background check on this company, i wouldnt want to waste time on such a company and for all you know, you are only wasting your time with them.
@gabrielle47 (1219)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
Hi Chiyosan. Thanks for the encouraging words and the response. I did check on the company and the offerings they have. I did find that they do pay at the rate we agreed but the trainer was just also hired by the company at a very low rate. And what I cant stand is that I said to her: I know you have the power over this and she replied, yes we have power over this... how lame can she get? She is just so proud to be called trainer when in fact she was just newly hired. Sorry had to vent again as I hate her now. Thanks.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
To me it seems like this is a scam. Try to get more information about the trainer or company. It's always good to look before you leap. Good you did not push true with the job.
It's ok to asked question to make you feel more comfortable and can do the job well. I will feel very bad also if these happens to me. Just try looking again for another job.
@gabrielle47 (1219)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
Thanks for the response Robert. It was that it angered me more that I cannot ask anymore questions to know more about the job? Its really weird and I would like to perform better thats why Im asking the questions. Thanks and I am looking for a better job than having a trainer like that one.
« Gab »
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
Something about this conversation does not sound right.I have never heard of a potential employer saying I was asking too many questions.Also,this employer kept changing the ground rules.Being a freelancer,YOU have the choice of who to work with on a project.That is the advantage of being a freelance!I would hope that you overcome the feeling and the start of your career will be much more pleasant than this experience.You learned something from what happened and that is very important.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
26 Apr 08
Don't worry.Put this down to experience. But when you get ready for your next interaction with some other company, make up your mind about the salary you wish to earn. Last time, it was your first and so you must have been pretty excited and a bit muddled. At such moments, you tend to miss out on some things. This is how you had realised late that you had agreed for lower salary and undesired timing. Decide that you will not lose your cool , and take a five minute break if there is some sort of provocation. You need to tread with caution, if you must get things done. You can blow things easily within split seconds[you may be fully justified but if you need something and are convinced about the merits of the company and work, then, be patient, bide your time, plan mentally to be unperturbed and unemotional and keep your excitement aside.But be firm in your motive with room for a ten percent variation. Things will work out and whatever happens is for your good.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
28 May 08
i think there are some people who just can't tolerate the subordinates. i have seen a similar kind of team mate.he just act bossy. most of the times he speaks in very much bossy manner and humiliate me too. i think i wioll have a straight talk with the manger with it.
@bagumbayan (2705)
• Philippines
28 May 08
Sorry to hear that first job offer to out.Just wondering why the training is at 11pm. Is it a call center? Dont worry there are lots of jos you can apply too. And its nice asking questions, but not to much as your employer will get annoyed. Happy job hunting.
@BYOLA2871 (4371)
• South Africa
26 Apr 08
in my opinion to have asked questions about what you are to be paid is very legitimate and you ahve done well to set the records straight by asking ,also the issue of her asking you to be trained by night i think its a little awkward,then as regards her been judgemental about you i think its very wrong of her,well its good to have left the job because i can tell you that you may be frustarted when you eventually start the job,why?becasuse a job you have agreed to a particular rate suddenly being reduced to me is just like there is something wrong somewhere,its a service you are to perform how muvch she earns is really not your business but that she should stick to agreed rate,my dear you ahve not done anything wrong given your post,another job will come just dont give up
@sutanhartanto (4122)
• Indonesia
28 May 08
well, calling for training at 11pm, cutting your rate to half, and the other you mentioned, that's not good signs of a legitimated job. i don't think she represent a good employer. unless she represent NSA (
) which will definitely give you a nice salary, she can't treat you like that.
) which will definitely give you a nice salary, she can't treat you like that. 
@thedaddym (1731)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Sounds like she is an unreasonable person. I would not let it bother you. I would move on to the next job and try to forget about this one. Some people are just difficult and enjoy being so. You can't let that kind of person bother you.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
26 Apr 08
I don't know what you did wrong, if technology is malfunctioning then she can not blame you. It is a really stupid time to train you, who is readily available to be trained at 11pm when they want to work on the morning.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I've found anytime you try to work for someone else things get crazy...maybe you can freelance in different ways? there are a lot of sites that offer places to post freelance offers and respond to others needs...i think sologig.com was one I signed up for - but never saw anything i was actually really qualified to do...
alternatively you can try to build your own website that lists your services and everything you can do and then market the heck of that website - a blog format would probably work.
I know it is unnerving but the best to do is just roll it off and keep trying :)
@pnelly (22)
•
25 Apr 08
There is no human being who can read an others mind,therefore most of us collect our data through our contact with one through chating , discussion or base or some option that must be presented to ther fellow. we then base our assumption and stick to it hoping it is correct.
In your case, the person was wrong about u but dont fell down trodding. it an experience and try to show more interest in what u like.
Have a better luck next time.
