Today I reached out to a local web and interactive design firm here in Austin, to set up a meeting to discuss internships and what needs they may have. Rather than just having any students apply, I wanted to be able to only have students that fit the criteria they really want. I called the Internship Coordinator to setup something. The call was horrible. The woman was so rude. She kept saying to read what’s on the site and have them apply. When I tried to explain that knowing more about the types of skills students should have would help me in sending them there, she just kept saying ‘have them apply”. I asked to perhaps talk to the head of the department to set up a meeting she told me “she is a very busy women and doesn’t have time to talk to you”. It was really frustrating and so rude! The call started and ended badly, and since I knew I was doing this for my job (and possibly at the expense of my students) I tried very hard not to lose it and ended it gratefully. But gah! What a poopy-head. Believe me, “poopy-head” isn’t what I’m really thinking. Oh and even though I stated I was from the Art Institute of Austin she said I was from UT!

Part of me really wanted to send an angry email to the main company address. I am still pondering it. Anyone who calls that number would be treated so poorly and rudely. The problem I see is that if I complain, they may not hire Art Institute students since she appears to be the internship gatekeeper. I am annoyed because perhaps because our call went so badly, she might nix anyone who applies with Ai on their resume. Or who knows, maybe she thinks it’s just UT! So I am torn between just calling her a crappy person in my head and leaving it at that or emailing the company. Either way, even though there are many other design firms in Austin, I don’t want to burn any bridges at a large one like this. What would you do?