A local AP tutoring firm contacted me, with an email line stating they had "Desperate Need for AP Spanish Tutor." Interesting, I thought, and I responded that I would be interested, provided that such contract employment would be on my terms, not theirs (business for me, currently, is not hurting).
My terms being that 1) all classes are held in my home classroom, and 2) my pay is $50/hour.
I received a response inquiring where my classroom was located. Then a follow-up asking me to send my CV and three references. Sure, not a problem...striking me a bit as funny as HE had searched ME out to offer ME a position (evidently responding to my CraigsList ad). However, I said I would send everything only pendent upon my pay being commesurate with my going rates.
He emailed back requesting a meeting with me as soon as possible. I told him that, due to my teaching schedule, I am unable to meet with him before Friday morning. Knowing full well, of course, that his only purpose in seeing me face-to-face was to try to talk me down from my going rates.
He then began to get upset, evidently, in his email, wondering what kind of time I would have to dedicate to his students if the earliest I could come to him is Friday morning. I fired back that I stay at home teaching so that I can be a mother for my two young children as well, 'sir'. That permits me to have students while having my children at home and working around my schedule as, most importantly, a parent first. My students all understand and, above all, respect that in me.
I then said that, if that is not an acceptable arrangement for your company, then we are perhaps not a good match.
He didn't appreciate that response, as I received a rather snide comment back about my "TEACHING SCHEDULE" permitting. I do have students Monday-Thursday afternoon/early evening, then children pick-up from school, dinners to prepare, etc. I have my limits; hence what I have chosen to do--while earning more money than I did at the Uni working their hours. Plus, by now my feathers are a bit fluffed; I did not go to him asking for employment. He, instead, was "desperately seeking a Spanish AP tutor" and sought me out. Then had the nerve to switch the table to feed his own ego? make me seem like the bad guy? I'm not exactly sure, but it didn't work as he has lost one hell of an excellent prospective tutor that he sought and then proceeded to chase away.
It was today that I realized how far I have come in such a short time in my business. Whereas two years ago I would have jumped like a puppy through whatever hoop this man had set out and complied with whatever pittance had been tossed my way, I have learned that my name has gotten out, I have regular students and recommended students alike who I have earned all by myself, with no need for a school or an agency for matchmaking. I don't have to take the crap he was trying to deal out anymore, and I would not have enjoyed working for someone like that. My sympathies to those who do work for him.
In my final email of this exchange I did thank him for his interest...! Queen of the subversive jabs am I!
(and just to let you know---I really, really derive great pleasure from coming out on top of such pettiness!)
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Hello!
ResponderEliminarGood on you Mama Llama - great fighting spirit! You don't need people like him in your life. No way!
ResponderEliminarVery well done and good for you! I probably would have gotten sucked in and then felt bad about it so I applaud you for standing up for yourself with such confidence.
ResponderEliminarHeh. You are good.
ResponderEliminarGood for you! I've taken occasional jabs for not having more evening or any weekend avaiablitiy and my response is the same - parent first, therapist second. I don't feel even a tiny bit bac about that.
ResponderEliminarWow! Congrats on a successful business!! And your bad-assness! :)
ResponderEliminarI love it. People like that are their own worst enemies.
ResponderEliminarThe fact that your business is doing so well speaks volumes about you. Way to go Mama Llama.
Paul: Hello.
ResponderEliminarKay: Thank you. No, I do NOT!
MindyMom: It was only so easy as it was all done on email. In person not so easy, hence the pushing on my part not to cave and have to go in for a face-to-face before rates were set.
Z: Thanks. I already knew that (a-hem! wink... you know what I mean!)
Citizen: It was very pushy that way. And I have a feeling that he is a man (Korean, and yes--it makes a difference as I understand the juku-school culture) who is not used to someone calling his bluff or, much less, standing up to him on principle or values. Family IS important, #1, and YEA to us for realizing that and putting it into practice!
T: I hereby strive in 2009 for more bad-assed-ness--when appropriate, of course!
Brad: Thank you. You're perhaps my #1 fan. I appreciate the support. The fact that you vision me as a police cop in SAm still kills me, though...! :)
Be well, all. And thanks for the votes of confidence! I did get a new student contact today--on my terms and in my classroom, and with my own advertising. God, I love Craigslist!
Que Bueno!!
ResponderEliminar(did that even mean something good?)
I tried hitting on my cleaning lady's assistant once. She was smokin' hot and spoke no English, and my Spanish sucks. I'm better at Italian. At one point I wanted to say how beautiful she was, and I think I told her she was incredibly "nice". Lol.
I didn't get a date.
btw - I know it sounds like my comment has nothing to do with your post. But it does! In my weird twisted dad's house mind sort of way.
ResponderEliminarYou did good to stand firm. Bravo.
it's nice when (and if) we can choose to accept our clients as clients!
ResponderEliminar