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As a self-proclaimed "computer geek", my immediate reaction to the idea of a telecommuting job is, "Hallelujah!" I was once offered such a position and it seemed like a no-brainer. I could complete my day's work at my leisure and without ever changing out of my pajamas - how could it possibly get any better than that? If I could go back in time and smack myself, I would.

An online publication contacted me about becoming a web developer and writer for their site. They dealt with all the big names in the home and garden business, and they were a prime candidate for top dog in tourist resources for New England. My rational seemed reasonable: if they contacted me and they are a reputable company, how could I possibly go wrong? Well after my initial e-mail correspondence expressing my interest in the position, we set up a phone conference between the manager of the company and me. We discussed my skills, interests, and capabilities as a telecommuting employee. The job would be two and a half hours from my new residence and I was already familiar with the area, so if there was ever a conference or meeting he needed me to attend, it wouldn't be out of the question the way cross-country travel would be. After a couple hours of discussion and negotiation, we decided on a date for a face-to-face interview. I was going to take a day off from my current job to meet with him, and he assured me that if I were in need of accommodations (as it was the dead of winter on the east coast) he would have no problem setting me up in the Holiday Inn behind their building, as they were clients of the company.

Again, I ask you with so much planning and so many highly regarded names, how could I possibly be headed down a road of disappointment?

I planned my day off, got my car all geared up for the trip and started my trip that I was convinced would lead me to eternal comfort and happiness. On my drive up, I called his number to confirm there weren't any change of plans but no answer. I reached an operator and explained my situation and she assured me he would get back to me when he returned. Two hours later, I was coming up on the exit to my destination with plenty of time to spare, so I tried again. No answer. I decided that it couldn't hurt to let them know I was in the area, and that I would simply entertain myself in the nearby shopping center until the time of our interview. When I approached the front desk, there was a locked door and an empty waiting room. The lights were on, but there was truly nobody home. It was around lunch time, so I gave them the benefit of a doubt that they had just all gone to lunch. An hour and a half later, I returned. There was one car in the parking lot, but there was still nobody at the front desk. I tried calling again and this time, no one picked up at all. I spent about five hours trying to contact someone in that business, and I was standing right in their lobby!

Defeated, I drove home in the snow. I tried to contact that company for two months to at least express my complete distaste for the handling of the situation and to get some answers. But I never did. No answers, no job. I learned my lesson that day: if something seems too good to be true, I will guarantee you it probably is.

Learn more about this author, Leslie Haasch.
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