Well, sorta

The story is, last weekend I was at a fast food place getting breakfast for me and the autistic girl I work with (she was with me). A guy approached me who was interested in autism and said he would like some more info on the subject, but had to run and asked for my number.

He called a few days later and said he was a manager at John Deere, and that he noticed in my small talk that I said I would be graduating with a business degree in May and would love to look at my resume. He had to run, but called back a few days later and left a message with his work phone number.

The problem is, I don't remember this guys name AT ALL. When he left the message, his name sounded all garbbled and 3 different people couldnt make it out when I played the voicemail. I already tried Whitepaging the #, and googling his position to no avail. So when I call, what do I say? Who do I ask for? What if its a switchboard #, and I have to know his name? What do I do then?

4/14/2006 1:25:59 PM

call and *67 - find out instead of posting so ppl here can guess

4/14/2006 1:27:40 PM

Just call and be like HEY DO Y'ALL SELL TRACTERS?

4/14/2006 1:28:41 PM

if you read the post, you'd see i HAVE both his numbers, but not his name

I'm looking for help for what to say and who to ask for when I DO call

4/14/2006 1:29:44 PM

CALL WITH *67 - AND ASK WHAT HIS NAME IS B/C YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE DIALED THE WRONG # OR SOMETHING ELSE FUCKING SIMPLE LIKE THAT - are you a complete idiot - figure it out once you find out who answers - hell you can even hang up after you hear who answers

4/14/2006 1:31:48 PM

looks like youre fucked proper there buddy

4/14/2006 1:33:15 PM

you could try calling the work number late at night (when you know he won't be there) and see if he says his name on the voicemail

4/14/2006 1:34:28 PM

perhaps when he answers the work number he will be like so-so speaking how may i help you.

4/14/2006 1:35:37 PM

^^that was going to be my suggestion.

If it's direct dial to his office, he more likely than not answers his phone, "John Doe" or "Hello, this is John Doe" or something along the sort. If he doesn't, I don't see the issue with politely asking for his name. (yeah, what ^ said)

[Edited on April 14, 2006 at 1:38 PM. Reason : .]

4/14/2006 1:37:57 PM

thanks for all the serious responses

i wasnt sure what to do, but ill try tonight with the calling late thing

at least that way I can tell if its a switchboard or his direct office line

4/14/2006 1:48:43 PM

if his work phone has caller id then he'll be wondering, "why the hell did that guy i met at mickey d's call me at 2am?"

i feel your pain, though...i'm horrible w/ names...

4/14/2006 1:48:56 PM

^so block your number or use a friend's cell...

4/14/2006 1:52:28 PM

you might try finding the switchboard number and speaking with someone, saying that you are trying to get in contact with the person at such and such a number but wanted to double-check that you have their name right?

4/14/2006 2:28:13 PM

call the number at 2m from a phone booth.. duh

4/14/2006 3:56:40 PM

^ and breathe heavily.

4/14/2006 3:57:47 PM

^^
Done that when wanting to complain anonmously to a landlord late one night.

Either that or look up John Deere's Corporate Phone number and find whoever does directory assistance. They probably have something internal they can look it up with. Put your social engineering skills to work...

[Edited on April 14, 2006 at 6:01 PM. Reason : .]

4/14/2006 6:01:14 PM

sounds to me like he's going to meet you somewhere too look over your resume and you are going to get anally raped instead. i'd be wary of some fuck who just approached me in McDs because he was interested in learning about autism.

4/14/2006 8:05:58 PM

ahh yes....My plan is to meet him in a dark deserted alley at 2 am

come on...if he doesnt give me an office located at john deere or at least an office park, do you think im gonna go?

and he really did seem legit anyway

4/14/2006 8:13:21 PM

Actors and models get "discovered" like that all the time. Not that it's a great comparison, just that he could have overheard you talking and got a general impression that you had your shit together. A good salesman or recruiter is always on the job no matter where he/she's at.

That said, I'd make sure he's on the up and up before you go to meet him.

4/14/2006 8:55:46 PM

his name is angus. colonel angus.

4/14/2006 9:04:00 PM

My sympathies. This sounds remarkably like something that would happen to me. In the immortal words of Douglas Adams, "Don't panic."

I'd recommend calling the number at a time that you know he's not there (8-10pm are good times). That way you'll be put through to his voicemail and he'll most likely say his own name in the message. If he doesn't, you've lost nothing: just leave your message explaining that you're the guy he met at whatever restaurant calling to get his email address so that you can pass along your resume, leaving your number and the best times to reach you. Make sure you thank him for calling.

He'll call you back and will probably say his name when he leaves a message for you or greets you on the phone, whichever happens.

If he gave you his number, the odds are very good that you're not going to be put through to a switchboard.

[Edited on April 14, 2006 at 10:38 PM. Reason : sry, didn't read the responses...]

4/14/2006 10:38:03 PM

honestly if you can't puzzle through this they probably shouldn't hire you

4/15/2006 11:37:48 AM

yeah, don't worry about it so much.

just call and introduce and explain yourself. who you are and how you met, etc. then say, "i'm sorry, i'm afraid i didn't catch your name in (fill in the blank here", you can say in the rush, in the confusion, on the answering machine, it doesn't matter what the reason is, or even if it's true) and then go on. i'm sure he won't mind, and if he does he's a prick and you wouldn't want to work for him anyway.

these things can be weird, but it's imp. to remember that it's not that big a deal, he's probably a busy guy and won't think twice about your question, he'll prolly just answer it and move on.

4/17/2006 1:41:40 AM