The other day I was reading an article that triggered a memory. It was a long time ago; close to twenty years I would imagine. I applied for a job at a big new Pet Store, PetSmart. The big box pet store had come to our little town. It was a first and I decided that it was the place that I should work. Much excitement swirled around the idea of having a huge store open; which was devoted to animals. Before construction was complete an advertisement was placed in the local newspaper; they were looking to hire.
My application was filled out, mailed in and I got the call. The day finally arrived for my interview and I was stoked. Being already very involved with dogs; as far as training, grooming and owning a dog walking service; I was a shoe in for the job. Right? I sat down in a dark room; across the table from a man who was younger than I was, wearing a suite and tie. He wanted to know what I had to offer PetSmart; so I answered the questions that I was asked.
But it didn't take long for the interview to turn around. I wanted to know what PetSmart had to offer my dogs and others dogs. Before long I was interviewing PetSmart about their products, protocols and establishment in general. I wanted to know, so I asked. The guy in the suit who started out interviewing me was now back peddling and skirting my questions. I asked questions that were important to me. "Do you pull a product once you know that it is dangerous for dogs?" "Does PetSmart use only positive training methods?" "What sort of dog food did they carry?" I didn't get many questions in before I was thanked; told I'd be contacted, and sent on my way.
Needless to say I did not get the job; I never even got a call to tell me I wasn't hired. But I was happy that I'd pushed. You see I cannot sell bad or dangerous products to unsuspecting people for any amount of money, I just can't do it. Plus I could not stand by and watch dogs be yanked around; even if I was just a bystander, not knowing what I know. Of course this was a long time ago and I know that PetSmart now uses positive training methods which I am very happy about. Not all training places do though so make sure you know the difference before trusting someone with your dog.
Funny, I had completely forgotten about that interview. Much has changed in almost twenty years. Memories can stay buried until a trigger brings them out for us to ponder on. I thought about the interview for sometime and laughed. I wondered where that guy was now. Is he a big mucky muck at PetSmart or did he move onto another large corporation? Who knows.
Sometimes no call back is good, evolution.