Does this briefcase make my hips look big?
Posted on 06/27/2010 5:46:22 AM PDT by STONEWALLS
I applied for a position a few weeks ago where all of the candidates showed up wearing suits and had briefcases, myself included. The HR lady even commented about it. I thought a suit and tie was standard..
I applied for a position a few weeks ago where all of the candidates showed up wearing suits and had briefcases, myself included. The HR lady even commented about it. I thought a suit and tie was standard..
But most don’t. There are many fine young folks out there ready to fill our shoes.
It doesn't matter if you think you will just be asking the floor clerk for an app, or if you think you are meeting the President of the company, go in the door the FIRST time expecting that they just lost an employee five minutes ago, and are desperate for a new worker. Even if it only happens 1% of the time, you never know when a manager might be the one handing out the applications, and he may have 10 minutes to interview on the spot. That is not the time you want to be dressed in your favorite rock group T shirt, or you faded, ripped jeans, with flip flops on. And above all, take a shower before asking for that application!
I've never had a candidate show up in flip-flops and T-shirt, had a kid in tow, or took a cell phone call in the middle of the interview. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen to me. 99% of interviews are hum-drum affairs where the candidate always plays it safe. The most exciting interview I had was when a candidate vowed that I'd be a fool not to hire him and that his goal upon being hired would be to "get me promoted so he could take my job." That kind of confidence was refreshing - he never did take my job (and get me promoted) but he did end up being one of my better hires.
I can't help but think this article is a total fabrication, concocted by a bored journalist who couldn't find a real story to write about.
I’m not sure what I’m most shocked by... the behavior of the idiots these companies selected to interview, or the fact that there were that many job opportunities to mention for the article.
I think that number is a litte low - more like 500 job seekers for every opening - it maybe narrowed down to five for the initial interview but there are a lot more than five for for every job opening.
It really depends on the college. Some colleges are churning out highly entitled young people. At least they *think* they are entitled.
Its just a collection of worse case stories, one out of 10,000 kinda sampling...
I am guilty of being rude at the interview, but I was not being unintentionally rude. The interview was going very well and we were discussing compensation. The position was advertised as having “good wages.” When I discovered that his idea of good wages was two bits over minimum wage and about two thirds of the prevailing wage for that job in that area at the time I was more than a little incensed. I snatched my application right out of his hand, opened the door so the people filling out apps could hear and loudly told him pretty much how I felt about his false advertising and wasting my time. “Pretty much” because I left out all obscenity and profanity. After that I stormed out of the office, with two or three other applicants behind me.
Good advice!
I saw that EXACT scenario one time, too!
And from personal experience from a candidate I once interviewed, remove any body piercings on the your face before the interview.
Most folks I’ve interviewed have presented themselves appropriately, but I have seen highly inappropriate attire. Unfortunately for that woman, half of the interview panel was female. And the males wouldn’t even look at her - didn’t want an EEO complaint.
That is very refreshing. Most HR types I have met have never made a mistake. Ever. Just ask them.
I am sure your attitude allowed you to hire some very qualified applicants who might have otherwise declined the position.
The weirdest one, was a young candidate that told me that if he did not get the job his Dad was going to call me. It was like a threat. He did not get the job, and his Dad did call.
About 1 minute into an interview, a college candidate took a 2 minute cell call. I thanked him for coming in and returned him to HR. Interview over.
Best interview was a lady who just had the best, “never say die” attitude, I have ever seen. She was Hispanic and was the first in her family to go to college. She said "I can do this." and I believed her. Didn't have the best grades in college but we hired her and she was great.
No Beer? Not even Shiner???
Odd, I NEVER carry a briefcase to an interview. I use a zipped leather portfolio: extra resumes, business cards, and a handy pad for taking notes.
But then, I’m a techie, not a management or sales type. . .
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