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Why I Said No to a High-Paying Client

Jun 4, 09 • random words, tips • 14 Comments • Read More »
3362814647 2ffd75a221 Why I Said No to a High Paying Client 

I WANNA SAY NO, originally uploaded by lovely mandy ♥.

I used to work for an IT consulting company that was known to not be very nice to their empoyees, which was one of the worst experiences in my entire life. After I left that hellish job, I vowed never to work for a company who:

1. Micromanaged
2. Treated their employees like second-class citizens
3. Said negative connotations for people who they considered “different”

In 2007, I went on an interview with another IT consulting company for a Sr. Technical Writer position. They were very interested in me, and said that my resume showed that I had tremendous experience. It was all wonderful until I went on the interview. The manager took one look at me and started saying things like:

1. “You are too young to know what I am talking about”
2. “Oh, YOU young bucks”
3. “Such a young, pretty girl like you wouldn’t understand”

I was shaking the entire time, and when it came down to discussing the position, he said that there is no way I could be there for the Sr. Technical Writer position, so he was now thinking that the Junior one would be a better fit.  They offered me the position, and I turned it down.  This was another company that I added to my blacklist.

I am now following the advice of some FriendFeeders to find a full-time position while relaunching my freelance writing business after getting laid off.  Today, I had an interview for a two-month contract with a GSA-approved vendor. The recruiter never told me who the company was until this morning. Same IT consulting company.  I called him back and said that I was sorry, but I was not able to go to the interview after finding out who the company was. He tried to persuade me, but I said that I would never do business with such a company. I was ready do a longer commute, and work 50-60 hour weeks during the time when I am thinking about having “Fun in the Sun.” However, finding out who it was with, made me say N-O. 

As a Freelancer, you might want to take everything that comes your way, especially if you are starting.  You probably think that this is the only way to get your name out there. This might sometimes be the case, but you also have to think about what will make you comfortable. There is no money in the world that is worth you dealing with a client who will make you dread getting up in the morning and make you feel super small in comparison to who you really are. In the end, it’s what makes you happy.

A client who can’t get past external factors that has nothing to do with my professionalism and experience is not someone who I should be providing my expertise to. I have over eights years professional experience as a Technical/Proposal Writer; have my secret clearance; and I have been working in the IT field since I was 17. Additionally, I am hell of a worker and always provide my clients the highest quality of work.  Thanks, but no thanks. Even if the money was good, I will pass.  

Why I Said No to a High Paying Client
Why I Said No to a High Paying Client
Written by: Shevonne on June 4, 2009.
Last revised by: Shevonne on December 28, 2009.

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  • jim

    Mandy — Having worked at Unisys for some time as a writer, editor, and communicator, I must say that I’m shocked at your experience. I am a published writer and I’ve had quite a positive experience, and many opportunities, working (and writing) for the company. Sorry to hear you had to go through this, but that doesn’t sound like the company I work for. Send me an email if you want to discuss — jim.kerr@unisys.comJim Kerr

  • jim

    Mandy — Having worked at Unisys for some time as a writer, editor, and communicator, I must say that I'm shocked at your experience. I am a published writer and I've had quite a positive experience, and many opportunities, working (and writing) for the company. Sorry to hear you had to go through this, but that doesn't sound like the company I work for. Send me an email if you want to discuss — jim.kerr@unisys.com

    Jim Kerr

  • dcfemella

    Thanks for responding, Jim. I’m not the only one who has not had the best experience with Unisys, but it might be the Project Manager, they interviewed with or worked for. It’s sad how one bad apple can spoil the bunch.

  • http://www.dcfemella.com/blog dcfemella

    Thanks for responding, Jim. I'm not the only one who has not had the best experience with Unisys, but it might be the Project Manager, they interviewed with or worked for. It's sad how one bad apple can spoil the bunch.

  • angrykeyboarder

    Mandy?

  • http://http.://angrykeyboarder.com angrykeyboarder

    Mandy?

  • dcfemella

    Mandy is my new name…you didn’t know? hahahah I think he got that from the picture.

  • http://www.dcfemella.com/blog dcfemella

    Mandy is my new name…you didn't know? hahahah I think he got that from the picture.

  • angrykeyboarder

    :)

  • http://http.://angrykeyboarder.com angrykeyboarder

    :)

  • Name

    I guess the one thing that comes to mind is the fact that Unisys may be so large and monolithic that the experience you have depends on the team with which you’re affiliated. That being said, I certainly can sympathize with the disdain 1 bad manager, okay perhaps several bad managers, can make me you feel for an entire company – American Institutes for Research, another of the beltway bandits.

  • Name

    I guess the one thing that comes to mind is the fact that Unisys may be so large and monolithic that the experience you have depends on the team with which you're affiliated. That being said, I certainly can sympathize with the disdain 1 bad manager, okay perhaps several bad managers, can make me you feel for an entire company – American Institutes for Research, another of the beltway bandits.

  • dcfemella

    Your’e right. It is a big company, but I haven’t heard great things from others as well. It’s one of the reasons that Word-of-Mouth is so important. The person who is going to do the most talking about a company is the one who had a horrible experience.

  • http://www.dcfemella.com/blog dcfemella

    Your'e right. It is a big company, but I haven't heard great things from others as well. It's one of the reasons that Word-of-Mouth is so important. The person who is going to do the most talking about a company is the one who had a horrible experience.