My Degree Surpasses Your Attitude

I’m back at work these days - well kinda! I picked up a no-brainer job on an as-need basis in a real estate office. I’m over qualified and overly bored but greatly appreciated by Mike, the man in charge (which makes it worth it). My duties are simple, answer phone, take messages, direct people to model homes, and hand out floor plans, anything to make them 'feel at home' without talking prices. Of course, I don't know much about the business and/or details of the homes so I direct to the questions to the right person. This part-time job has helped me get back into the business world and I know something better will come along but for now I’m content being a GREAT office assistant.

So when this guy came in the office today his statements made me so frustrated I wanted to pull out my 4-year degree and slap him across the face with it. He starts asking me questions before the door has time to shut behind him and as I try to explain to him that the sales rep. that he needs to talk to is out of the office he precedes to interrupt me and demand that I call that person and ask how far away from the office they are (apparently he had already called the sales rep. and knew he was on his way)! OMG why the eff did you bother me then?! So as I get ready to call the sales rep. to get his ETA the phone rings and I proceed to take a message from a local realtor. The man in the office comes up to my desk and assumes I am talking to the sales rep. so he speaks loudly and says "MIKE (sales rep.) IM HERE MAN - WHERE ARE YOU MAN?" I have to apologize to the realtor on the phone, cover the phone receiver, and tell the man to please be quite I am taking a message and I will call Mike as soon as I am done. He walks away pissed and starts’ asking questions to him self. When I get off the phone and start dialing Mike's cell number the man interrupts and says "NEVERMIND ILL DO IT" and takes out his cell phone and calls Mike!!! At this point I know there is nothing that is going to make this relationship better! As the phone is ringing he leads over and says to me "You must be new!" Before I could gather my thoughts to say something he had already walked away and started talking on the phone.

He had me so frustrated I couldn't remember what I was doing before he walked in. This man was ethnic with a thick accent and spoke broken English and kept saying either to Mike or myself 'I don't understand', 'explain again', and 'repeat repeat'. Mike meets the man outside for their meeting and later comes back in and leans over to my desk, again, and in a childish small voice says "THANK YOU honey, you’re sweet and doing a GREAT job" as if I was a 3 year old then says "we all have to start somewhere – you will be fine"! I just grinned and secretly flipped him off under the desk! Mike who knows my education and experience level just laughed – there was no correcting this man even if he tried!

These people just piss me off! Don't ever assume just because I look pretty in office attire, know how to greet people, and answer the phones that I am not well equip to kick your ESL Ass!