Dear Alice From Hickack Recruiting, I’m Sorry: How I Fumbled the Job of My Dreams

By Christina Lopez

Hello, my name is Christina. I want to tell you a tale about a missed job opportunity. After going through what happened a million times in my head, I wish I could go back and do things differently. But for now, I want to share my story with you, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did and miss a deal of a lifetime.

Last week, a woman named Alice, from Hickack Recruiting, contacted me over SIM message.  

Hi, I’m Alice from Hickack recruiting. If u don’t mind, i am impressed with your background, could u submit your information for the hiring process? If u do, please reply yes 

I, being in a foul mood from my abrupt awakening at 3:12 in the morning, sent:

No 

In which she replied: 

Ok 

This abrupt response took me by surprise. I looked over her message again when a terrifying thought entered my head. What if this was a test of some sort, to see my strength as a candidate? Have I ever received an unprompted job offer from a company claiming to have my background information despite never having applied? No. But clearly Alice’s need for me was so urgent that they surpassed the formality of a written email and decided to personally reach out over text at this hour. I was quite flattered. After realizing I was acting very rude toward Alice, I scrambled to my senses and quickly tried to make amends. 

Wait yes! I’m sorry, I suffer from bipolar disorder, will that affect the job opportunity?  

I silently clasped my hands together, hoping I hadn’t ruined this for the both of us.

I looked down and to my amazement:

Nwg

…

*No

I breathed a sigh of relief, Alice hadn’t given up on me after all.

Thg job is online, you have to register usng this link, we need your SS to verify your identity 

Okay great! But before I go through with this, I feel that I need to be honest with you Alice, may I call you Al? I haven’t had the best luck finding jobs online. I do, after all, only have three fingers, between both hands. It’s not only been really hard physically but socially as well… 

Were u able to find it?

What, my fingers?

No

The link to put ur information

Oh, that! I’ll get right on that!  Can I just say I really appreciate your kindness? I think I would work really well in this environment.

 One min later:

Uh oh, Alice, I think we have a problem.  

What?

This is what pops up when I press the link… Were you … trying to play a prank on me Alice? 

…

I really don’t appreciate that Alice. And to think we had a good thing going here. Frankly, I am a little hurt, though I am quite amused. Haha Alice, very funny, I am laughing! Haha! 

Hello? 

Needless to say, I don’t think Alice found it as funny as I did. Let this be a lesson friends. Not everyone looking to hire you is a friend. I really thought I found my dream job and future best friend. In a frenzied attempt to recontact Alice, I found out that Alice’s organization was associated with identity theft and worst of all, they weren’t even hiring! I am sure you can imagine the hurt I felt having fumbled this opportunity. But alas, it is in our deepest hurts that we find the strength to move forward, so thank you, Alice, for giving me a glimpse of hope on an otherwise bleak day.