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Jun. 3rd, 2009 03:28 pmBeing my last Wednesday morning shift, I brought in a box of Celebrations for the table. As I made my way around the unit, via the lockers, to my booth a few people wished me good luck and asked when I was starting the new job and whether I was excited or looking forward to it.
And then there was still a shift to get through. Lynda came over after about an hour to check that we had no more shared shifts this week and to say goodbye and good luck. On the phones I seemed to get just about every awkward difficult sod going, from a foreign woman who kept complaining that she didn't understand the questions (though she refused the offer of an interview in her first language) and was tired and wanted to end the call (but she made it through the whole thing), to a guy who didn't work for health reasons and kicked off every 30 seconds about how the questions weren't relevant to him and the survey was taking too long (got him completed too but he said no to future waves) and an elderly lady who had only a hazy recollection of doing it before and whom I had to persuade to keep going when, after two minutes, she said she didn't feel like answering any more questions. And that's without mentioning the two households we were trying for the first time, one of whom just said "don't bother" and the other didn't even let me get as far as naming the organisation I was calling from before she cut in with the creative wording "Oh no, there's too busy" and hanging up. Pick of the crop had to be the young man who said I sounded tired and robotic and in need of a cup of coffee, asked where we were based and, of all things, where my accent was from, and finally agreed to an interview next week - signing off with a suggestion that we all ought to have a few beers or a spliff before we start work.
Only two more shifts to go, thank frack.
At the end of the shift, we were all gathered round the front desk for Sue #5 to announce to the assembled company that Caroline and I were leaving and present us with our cards and gifts. Sue told us how much we'd be missed, and we got a generous round of applause - someone asked if I wasn't making a speech, but Heather let me off the hook by saying I had a bus to catch. In the end Cathy offered me a lift anyway.
I got a huge mug with 'world's best footie fan' on and a WH Smith gift card :)
And then there was still a shift to get through. Lynda came over after about an hour to check that we had no more shared shifts this week and to say goodbye and good luck. On the phones I seemed to get just about every awkward difficult sod going, from a foreign woman who kept complaining that she didn't understand the questions (though she refused the offer of an interview in her first language) and was tired and wanted to end the call (but she made it through the whole thing), to a guy who didn't work for health reasons and kicked off every 30 seconds about how the questions weren't relevant to him and the survey was taking too long (got him completed too but he said no to future waves) and an elderly lady who had only a hazy recollection of doing it before and whom I had to persuade to keep going when, after two minutes, she said she didn't feel like answering any more questions. And that's without mentioning the two households we were trying for the first time, one of whom just said "don't bother" and the other didn't even let me get as far as naming the organisation I was calling from before she cut in with the creative wording "Oh no, there's too busy" and hanging up. Pick of the crop had to be the young man who said I sounded tired and robotic and in need of a cup of coffee, asked where we were based and, of all things, where my accent was from, and finally agreed to an interview next week - signing off with a suggestion that we all ought to have a few beers or a spliff before we start work.
Only two more shifts to go, thank frack.
At the end of the shift, we were all gathered round the front desk for Sue #5 to announce to the assembled company that Caroline and I were leaving and present us with our cards and gifts. Sue told us how much we'd be missed, and we got a generous round of applause - someone asked if I wasn't making a speech, but Heather let me off the hook by saying I had a bus to catch. In the end Cathy offered me a lift anyway.
I got a huge mug with 'world's best footie fan' on and a WH Smith gift card :)
