One terrible thing that job candidates have said is "what does your company do?" How can you go to a job interview and not even have visited the company's web site? TJNTIY.
A Candidate Who Apparently Does Not SurfOne terrible thing that job candidates have said is "what does your company do?" How can you go to a job interview and not even have visited the company's web site? TJNTIY.
Candidate For Whom Nighttime Is the Wrong TimeI've run into many strange people over my long years of interviewing candidates. My two favorites are the young woman who was impeccably dressed with great educational credentials who was apply for a job as a senior corporate banking analyst. When asked if working long hours posed a problem for her, she responded by telling me she was prepared to work as many hours at it took to do the job - so long as she didn't have to work them from the office and that she was allowed to leave everyday before it got dark outside. She told me she was afraid of the dark and couldn't go outside after sunset.
Candidate Attire Flunks Casual FridaysSome definite no-no's: showing up in bright orange sweats with greasy hair to fill out an app, arguing with our receptionist, not filling in the app and writing "see resume" instead, and calling me every morning to see if I read his app yet when I specifically said I didn't have time and would call him if I was interested. More subtle red flags: not having an idea where they want to be in 5 years, having issues with all of their past employers, using the response "I don't know" without giving it much thought.
Candidate Arrives With EntourageI once had a candidate for an interview. My recruiting assistant brought the candidate to meet me in a conference room. I greeted the candidate, had him sit down, and began the interview process. Into the interview for about five minutes the candidate suddenly changed subjects and asked whether his mother could come into the conference room to join him! I told the candidate I only had two or three questions that I needed to ask him and I asked those questions quickly! TJNTIY.
Loose Lips Sink CandidatesAnytime candidates bad mouth their company, be a boss or the board, it reflects poorly on them. Its always my goal to present candidates who have been successful in past roles, not those that carry baggage from getting burned. What candidate's might not realize is that when they bad mouth the boss/company it makes me wonder what the other side of the coin is and why they couldn't push through the problem for a good outcome. Great employees overcome adversity. TJNTIY.
Anyone of these items will be a short interview!!!1. Exaggerate or make up anything in your resume
Sales Candidate Couldn't Sell HimelfThe interviewee was a recent college graduate. He was interviewing for an entry level sales position. The candidate wasn’t sure of himself at all and was very tentative in his answers. I finally stopped the interview and told the young man flat out that I expected a candidate for a sales position to sell me on his candidacy. He said he understood and proceeded to answer the next question with, “Well, I guess I could definitely do that.” I ended the interview and suggested he look for a different type of position.
Candidate Says Interview Is a Waste of Time--The interviewee was an older gentleman. He was looking for a collections position. As I was walking him back to my office for the interview he stated, “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m just wasting my time.” He repeated this three more times within the first five minutes at which point I stood up, stretched my arm out for a hand shake and said, “You know what? You’re right and we don’t want to waste any more of it. Thanks for coming in and have a nice day.” And I showed him the door. TJNTIY.
A Murderer for a Candidate . . .One of my favorites is when we told a young designer to "dress professional and wear a suit". He did wear a suit... with tennis shoes and eye brow piercings. He didn't get the job. Second favorite. Early in my career I worked for a company where the local prison would send their newly released job seekers. On open interview day sitting across from me was a 6'6, 250 lb man who had marked on his application that he had committed a felony. Not quite sure how to handle it I explained to him that we needed to know what he was charged with as there were positions that he would not qualify for (my thinking was cash handling or children). He replied "no Maam, I have no problem discussing that. I killed someone"! Needless to say I was a bit frightened. Then he told me the story of a bar room fight gone bad. Believe it or not I actually placed him with a friend who was a brick mason and willing to give him a 2nd chance. Which he later messed up by getting into another brawl. Thankfully it wasn't with me! TNJTIY.
Candidate Goes to That Loving Place . . .With Himself1) I was interviewing one gentleman some time ago and in the middle of the interview he took out two bottles of massage oil and proceeded to first warm it in his hands and then massaged it all over his neck, back and front. He repeated the procedure with the second bottle. It was weird. (2) During an interview with another senior consultant, after offering him mine and my colleague's business cards, the gentleman proceeded to pick his teeth with both our cards, all the while talking about how his deep experience and professionalism will most definitely get him the contract. Ugh. TJNTIY.
|
User loginNavigationWho's online
There are currently 0 users and 1 guest online.
|
