Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ajpt]

Hello,

I have been in the quest of getting a job but I haven't been very lucky so far. It is very though for non English native speakers to get a decent job since many companies ask for excellent communication skills. I confess that I don't have a perfect English pronunciation and I still make many grammar and pronunciation mistakes. I just applied for a job and got a message in my answer machine. I called them back and left a message since nobody picked up the phone. Later, I called again and left another message since nobody called me back. Next day I called again in the afternnon and finally someone picked up the phone. I got an appointment for an interview next week. During my conversation with this person I felt that they didn't really wanted me because my accent. They heard my accent in the messages I left before. I think that's why they didn't call me back. They also asked me if I had a permitt to work legally in the US (which I have). I guess they asked me now for an interview because they didn't want to be impolite. I don't really feel like going to that interview because I'm ashamed of my accent and don't want to be rejected by them. What would you do in this situation
_________________
Bye, bye AJPT

[jenann]

Hum, that's a difficult situation...'cause I've never been in such a situation, 'cause I haven't applied for a job so far. But nevertheless I think you should try it, otherwise you'd maybe regret that you didn't. Don't think too much about your accent, try to convince them of your skills. By the way, maybe your accent is not as bad as you think it is?! Maybe the person you had on the phone was just busy at that time and therefore a bit unfriendly. What do you think?
Good luck!

[ajpt]

Hi Jenann,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I think that since they left a message asking for me to get back to them, they should have called me back. I didn't leave one but two messages on the same day and I didn't get any answers on that day nor the following day. That's why I called for the third time and finally they answered the phone. They didn't say anything about my messages nor apology for not calling me back. Nothing at all. That's why I feel that they don't want me. I also thought that it was very impolite to ask me about a work permitt over the phone and even before the interview or knowing if they woould like to hire me or not. I guess they assumed I'm an ilegal living in the US just because my accent. They wouldn't ask that to a person with an american accent. I guess that's the part that really upset me most. Thank you so much!
_________________
Bye, bye AJPT

[obelix]

It is also illegal for an American company to employ anyone who is not legally in the USA. It is BIG trouble for them and there are many illegal immigrants, so they have to be careful. Don't go there with a negative attitude or you will certainly not get the job.

[ajpt]

Hi Obelix,

Yes, you're right. I have to be more positive. I guess I shouldn't care about they asking me over the phone if I was ilegal or not. I guess that since I'm not an American Citizen born in this country I have to expect always this kind of questions. Thanks a lot for your reply!!!
_________________
Bye, bye AJPT