sorry, we need a male...

3-4 weeks ago i applied for a mentor position at a residential treatment center for teenage boys. i called the following week to check my status, and was told they had no current openings. today someone from the center called me.  here is how the conversation went down:

ring, ring.

me: "hello?"

him: "hi.  is, um, i'm looking for, is it...michael combs?"  (why don't people see two o's in the last name and pronounce it coombs?)

me: "yes, i'm michal."

him: "oh.  you?"

me: "yes."

him: "you're michael?"

me: "yes."

{pause}

him: "oh.  well, this is bob* from telos, and i'm looking here at your application....but, um, we need a male, and i thought you were..."

me: "that's ok, i get that a lot."

him: "so, are you a nurse?"

me: "i've worked as a medical assistant for the past eight years, and i recently graduated with my bachelor's in community health education."

him: "oh, really?  you know, you should apply when we have openings within our medical department."

me: "ok."

him: "ok.  well, thanks."

me: "ok.  thanks for your time."

maybe i should start attaching photos with the resumes i send out?

*name has been changed to protect the man who mispronounced my name and thought i was male.