she was given a desk and a phone but no specific duties during a four-month probationary period. She said her boss looked at her with "contempt" on her first day and said: "There is no job."   At that salary, I would have stuck it out for the four months, just to see where it went

Thank's, but I don't believe her. 

'No specific duties' Yes please, and thank you LORD.

'looked at her with contempt'?   Might have looked at her with approval ;-).

'There is no job'.....:-D.....;-).

.