When something genuinely interests you, it’s easy to forget you’re not even being paid to help.

So, what would you do if you stepped in to help someone, and after assuming you work there, they start praising you to the store manager? Would you just stand there and let them talk? Or would you immediately let them know you don’t work there?

In the following story, one woman finds herself in this situation and corrects the customer. Here’s how it all played out.

Woman tells the manager I should work here after telling her I don’t

There’s a pet store nearby that is attached to a cat adoption shelter I used to volunteer at.

Because of my interest in animals, I had wanted to work at the pet store itself for a while, and as soon as I heard they were hiring again, I sent in an application.

Soon after, I got the interview, but I was nervous out of my mind because this was my first-ever interview for an actual job I’d get paid for.

Time went on, and I still volunteered at the adoption center attached to it, and although I saw the manager who interviewed me from time to time, I never actually heard back. It upset me, but hey, what can you do?

She helped the woman all the way through the store.

So, a few weeks after the interview, I was finishing up my shift at the adoption center and getting things ready for the next volunteer.

Now, although I didn’t have any pets at the time (nor any money to get anything for them), I still liked looking at what was there and generally just browsing for a while.

While I was cooing at the angry Cockatiel up for adoption, I noticed a woman who looked like she needed some help.

She offered to help.

Being the kind soul I like to believe I am, I asked if she needed any help.

She did, and since I wasn’t doing anything, I helped her out. Practically following her around the store, recommending things she’d need from what I’ve heard from others, and lifting heavy things like kitty litter or dry food into her cart.

When we were done, I helped her up to the register, and who do I see cashing people out?

The manager.

The customer praised her.

As I helped her organize her stuff to scan, she was going on and on to this manager about how nice I was, and how much I helped her, and what a great employee I was.

I kindly corrected her that I didn’t work here, but cheekily remarked that I had submitted an application a few weeks ago.

The woman then went on a mini-rant about how I should be hired and just how kind I was.

After she checked out, she went on her own way, and I went on mine to head home. Never did hear back about that job.

Wow! It was so nice of her to help the customer.

Let’s check out what the readers over at Reddit think about what happened here.

Here’s someone who loves the story.

According to this comment, she deserves better.

This reader explains a reason they may not want to hire her.

For this reader, she dodged a problem job.

She made that woman’s day.

If you liked that post, check out this story about a customer who insists that their credit card works, and finds out that isn’t the case.