Just So Disappointed.....

Flakey people are a pet peeve of mine, too. You probably dodged a bullet with this one - she sounds like the kind of person who would "forget" to pay you, "forget" to cancel a lesson if her child gets sick, "forget" that you come on Tuesdays, not Wednesdays and go out to dinner with the family leaving you ringing her doorbell in frustration. Good riddance and lucky you - you avoided a self-centered jerk for a client.

Do you really want to work for someone SO irreliable!?

NO.

CHIN UP!! Everything happens for a reason :)

How are you advertising?? you might want to put flyers in better neighborhoods or give an incentive to your happy customers to refer you to others.

Also you might need to adjust your prices.

This just occured to me. I'm an over protective mom and i'm sure i would want an interview but maybe these people just want the details like price and time over the phone and then want you to get right to it. some people just don't care.

Can you ask someone objective to see if there is something off about how you are protraying yourself before the interview??

some people just stink, shake it off and try again I'm sure you are a great teacher and a wonderful tutor to some kids that really need it. THe right ones will come along.

Flakes.

Well, next time, before any appointment/interview.... CALL the person to CONFIRM, the appointment. At least, 1 day ahead of time.
This is common practice.
That way, you will know for sure.

Yes, people like that, are rude. They waste people's time and money. They think nothing of it, then act like they didn't know.

Always... call ahead of time, (1 day ahead) to CONFIRM the appointment.

I'm in technical laboratory sales and am rejected every single day, have been for 20 years. I guess I have built up a tolerance and that motivated me to get another client on board instead of crying.

Try to screen your potential clients as best as possible, qualify them over the telephone. This is just as much a time for you to interview them as they are you. You will get the hang of who will be more reliable.

Good luck!

Hi,

I completely understand your frustration! I would in the future make it a little more difficult for people to to have an interview with you. Make sure over the phone that you conduct a pre-qualifying interview before you waste your time or theirs. Don't agree to visit someone 1 hour away---make it a neutral location max of 20 min so that neither party is put out if the other cancels etc. Make it your policy to NOT agree to a 3rd cancelation interview etc. Tell them up front if you cancel more than once, I won't be able to accomodate you. It protects you and also lets them know you are serious about what you do. GL and keep your head up! Things will get better.

M

UGH! I'm so sorry, they stink!!!!!! I feel like this is one of those generational things. When I was entering the work force, over 20 years ago, it was UNHEARD of to flake on an appointment. I had so many jobs, so many interviews, there were codes of conduct on both sides. My little calendars and address books were packed into my car, driving all over hell and back. It was RARE that there were emergencies where people canceled, they always gave proper notice in advance. I hardly ever remember calling in sick or canceling things and I NEVER flaked. People knew they had to act a certain way to keep connections and a reputation.

By the time I left my job 5 years ago, honestly, the behavior you mention was practically standard among the 20's, 30's set. My friends and I talked about it a lot how we had never been afforded the luxury of flaking and ignoring calls and dodging emails and blowing people off with or without texts, like younger "professionals" for who it would be even EASIER with all this technology to give proper notice for stuff. I know not all people are bad now, but it has REALLY increased.

I think you will have to reconfirm the night before etc. I'm so sorry this happened to you, how awful! The bright side is definitely that these people are shmucks you don't want to work for though. Good luck job hunting and I hope you meet much nicer people soon!

People are just unbelievable aren't they? i guess the universe is conspiring to teach you lessons about valuing your time. I went through a stage in my life where I had many similar experiences and I felt like I was attracting weird energy, people who really did not value me or my time at all. It took me a long to realize that the energy I was projecting had a little something to do with it. Not that it was my fault that people are unappreciative dirtbags (or your fault by any means), but I needed to learn to be more discriminant and also to value myself more. I was not confident in what I was bringing to the table, and I was desperate. People with no decency will eat that up and use you then forget about you.

Like Christine said, you have to interview them as much as they are interviewing you. Even if you are desperate for work, you have to adopt the perspective that the potential employer is offering you something and you are deciding if it is good enough for you, while at the same time you are advertising what you can do for them. If you only do the first part and fail to show off what you bring to the table, then you come off as entitled. But if you run circles around people trying to be as professional and impressive as you can be without them deserving your effort at all, you can expect much disappointment. Best of luck!

Call them to confirm, and consider that they come to you somewhere that if they bail on you, you can run an errand and make it productive. It's rude of them to not show but it seems more and more people are inconsiderate of others' time. I also agree that you also have every right to refuse to reschedule. It was on the calendar. Your time is important, too. And here's the thing about those who "forgot" the interview - how many times would you be playing these games with them if they hired you? Not a good sign.

I am very sorry that it's like this for you. I've been suffering with the same rudeness in my business for many years. There are some on here that will come in and tell you how it's just part of life and you need to accept it. But most of us know it stinks! I just don't know how to change anything about it.

Lately, the Lord has been bringing me better families and making more of my interviews work out. I think it's because I've spent a great deal of time praying about this issue. Hang in there. Feel free to PM me here any time you need to vent!

Well, I think that it is clear that if this woman calls back that you do NOT agree to meet with her again. I understand that sometimes things will happen in someone's life, but this is the 3rd time with this woman. Sorry, she struck out and must not really have a need for your services. Stop wasting your time with this one. As for everyone else, you just have to do the best you can. As long as you have to deal with people in your business, there will be a certain amount of this sort of thing.

idk nothing about nothing...but i think if it were me, literally me, not me giving you advice, i think i would take that as a sign that maybe this is not what i'm supposed to be doing right now. things work out & don't work out for a reason. that's just my thoughts on it...
that would have been freakin' infuriating for me & such a waste of time, effort, gas, etc! argh. i feel your frustration for sure!

Sounds like you had a crappy week.
Definitely make sure you always call the day before the interview and if they dont answer leave a message for them to call you, otherwise dont go out of your way.
People do get lazy about appointments. I find myself calling people that are supposed to be showing up for an interview to rent an apartment almost every time.. I usually call an hour before they are to get here, most will say "Oh, I forgot, can I change the appt?".... good thing I called I think to myself. The world is rude.

Oh that soooo frustrating!!!!
I perform wedding and will usually meet with the couple at a coffee shop for the first meeting. I have met people at their home but yes it is in the back of my mind when I go are they for real or am I walking into a dangerous situation. Are they really a wedding couple or are they serial killers and I'm gonna end up buried in their basement? But I digress.....

I don't have an answer for you I have met with couples and thought the meeting went well and leave with a wedding booked only to get an email saying they selected a different officiant.

I did outside sales for years I would set an appointment with a prospect and tell them to ink me into their calender. I will be there at x time on x day, can't wait to meet you. I get there and they forgot, or suddenly got busy or simply weren't there. I have never been able to figure out any way to make sure they actually show up.

Here's hoping that next week goes better for you and everyone shows up ready to sign up for lessons.

It's sad that some people will treat others this way. How shameful. In the future, repeat back the date, day and time carefully at the end of the conversation so that there cannot be any confusion. "Let me write this in my day planner...we are set to meet at your house on Tuesday, November 11 at 9 AM, correct?" That makes it seem like you are just making sure you have it all correct when actually you are reinforcing it with them and requesting confirmation! If it happens again, you may have to start explaining to people that you have been stood up several times and need them to be punctual as you will be spending your time and gas $ to meet with them. You can do it nicely but firmly. Also, if this woman ever calls, don't agree to work for her. She's a mess and will probably be just as careless with paying you!!!

ooh this sucks!! Some people can be sooo rude!!!

I would call to confirm the appointment the morning of.
I would also send a meeting reminder the day before - I am not sure what e-mail you use for that - but if you use MS Office Outlook, you can send items return receipt, etc.

If this mom calls back to reschedule - tell her flat out - NO. I understand being sick. However, a no call - no show? Just rude, which might mean she won't pay you on time, etc. so it's best to let this client go.

The one in the PJs? I wouldn't even schedule a second one...I wouldn't be outside in my PJs with my kids sleeping nor would be I on a side street. Kinda freaky.

For canceled appointments? Tell them they will be charged a fee for canceling the appointment...get a credit card number or use Paypal and request money.....I know it sounds bad, but when money is on the line for some people - they won't forget so easily!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Disappointment is related to expectations. If you lower your expectations of others, you won't be so disappointed. (Very hard to do) But I really relate to people "standing you up". I am a massage therapist. I book my appointments for a specific time and go to the studio and sometimes they do not come. So rude.! When it happens, besides the disappointment, I think of it as a sign that they are not someone I want to deal with and I am grateful that I won't have to massage them. Turn it over and let go the anger (after a while.)