Burn notice to self

This series of events happened a while ago.

A dedicated employee, known for pranks such as an impromptu "hello, you a have reached the answering machine of..." as well as hard work decides to look for greener pastures.

One day, a letter from the friendly local EDD, job centre, or employment agency is in the mail.

Told you it was a while ago. When those folks still did real work, not just pester you with you missed an appointment, we'll cut your benefits notes.

The letter says that an agency , which we will simply call Agency Y, has an open position matching your qualifications.

It also has a phone number. The now former employee calls up the number.

And gets the friendliest operator in human memory.

He asks to speak with the person listed as HR contact.

Friendliest operator eventually comes back to tell him that the HR person is in a meeting, could he call back later.

That never happens because Former Employee has another offer that needs to be dealt with. He accepts this one.

Several months later, Former Employee is at a big Christmas party at Former Employer.  He could not pass up on this one. After all, how often do you get invited back?

He shares a table with some former colleagues and, after a beer, finds himself talking about the adventure of finding a new job. It so happens that the person who initiated the conversation makes an unexpected comment.

Do you know who the people of Agency Y are?

No, but I have to say they have the friendliest operator in human memory.

They are an agency that does not exactly do what their letterhead says.

You mean they are not Interdepartmental Efficieny Consultants? [Readers, I had to make this up to keep the exact letterhead wording to myself.]

Correct, and don't think that the employment folks would just send you a job opening notice.

What are you saying? [That's the effect of the beer. I am normally slow, but not that slow.]

They knew you were on the market, and someone recommended you. Someone who knows you well.

Vigorous shaking of head, followed by a series of small smiles and some more conversation.
The internet being what it is nowadays, you could actually find that agency listed as a front agency for another agency.

That's all I know, except, of course, that the HR contact's name was not her real name.

I have kept the letter.

Not in the house, gosh!

And we'll leave it to you, dear readers, to judge whether we made good on New Year's Resolution 1 (see the corresponding post) or whether we just failed miserably, again.