If you interview people, tell us your stories (employment, degree, employers)

[Reneeme]

Is there anybody that interviews and has interview stories to share? It would be interesting to hear answers to questions you remember, best and worst stories, who you hired and why, and who you did not hire and why.

Thanks!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Reneeme

Is there anybody that interviews and has interview stories to share? It would be interesting to hear answers to questions you remember, best and worst stories, who you hired and why, and who you did not hire and why.

Thanks!

I haven't done a lot of interviewing, but a number of times I've had to sit in on the second interview of people who were culled after the first round and then give my opinion.

People get hired because of relevant experience, which is a no-brainer, but also because of a sense that they are just plain smart. In other words, they won't know exactly how WE do things at my specific place of employment, but you can tell their minds are open and that they have the intelligence to learn. If they are trying to act as if they already know everything, it's a turnoff because we know for sure that they cannot possibly know. Intelligent people will ask intelligent questions, too, that demonstrate they are actually listening and thinking about what we are telling them. Even though the job might require a degree, actual education bears very little weight. It's the smarts, not the education that counts, and they are not the same thing at all.

Also, working where I work requires dealing with people from other departments who are our clients, and some of them may be very high levels and some may me demanding. The person has to demonstrate through the interview that they have conversational skills and a bit of a thick skin. That's something you can sense.

[kodaka]

Someone digging for gold during a career fair at a university. I managed to not barf, but I don't think I managed to keep a straight face. And I had to close my eyes to not see what the man did with the booger when he extracted it.

[hortysir]

For the most part, people are pretty well behaved during interviews. (I get the "I know everything" attitude, BTW)
I just hate when they come in for an app. without a pen.
Or they call in the middle of lunch to ask if we're hiring. I just say, "Not over the phone" and hang up

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by hortysir

For the most part, people are pretty well behaved during interviews. (I get the "I know everything" attitude, BTW)
I just hate when they come in for an app. without a pen.
Or they call in the middle of lunch to ask if we're hiring. I just say, "Not over the phone" and hang up

Often times, the lunch hour is the only time someone can call if they are working. Most companies have someone answering phones during lunch hour or shut down during lunch. Not sure why you feel the need to be rude to candidates that call during lunch. If the office shuts down during lunch, just don't pick up the phone.

[hortysir]

Originally Posted by Chatteress

Often times, the lunch hour is the only time someone can call if they are working. Most companies have someone answering phones during lunch hour or shut down during lunch. Not sure why you feel the need to be rude to candidates that call during lunch. If the office shuts down during lunch, just don't pick up the phone.

I'm a restaurant manager.
Lunch is my busy time, and I have to answer the phone for call-in orders.
Caller ID shows a home number.
If you can't get off of the couch to look for a job, how productive are you really?

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by hortysir

I'm a restaurant manager.
Lunch is my busy time, and I have to answer the phone for call-in orders.
Caller ID shows a home number.
If you can't get off of the couch to look for a job, how productive are you really?

Gotcha. Yeah ... in the food industry, applicants would get better results by contacting restaurants during non-peak hours.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by kodaka

Someone digging for gold during a career fair at a university. I managed to not barf, but I don't think I managed to keep a straight face. And I had to close my eyes to not see what the man did with the booger when he extracted it.

That's nasty. If they just needed to dig, they could have at least gone to the restroom. You just don't DO those types of things in public, ESPECIALLY during career fairs.

[malamute]

Overdressed and underdressed are fairly common problems. Applicants that look like they're trying too hard will scare off a lot of employers - but looking like you're too casual about the job doesn't work either. Dressing a little better than the job itself requires helps make a good impression.

[Robineli]

What not to do?

Tell me that you did the numerology on the workplace address and that it was an omen. After a few minutes of me trying to steer the interview away from anything that discussed numbers and having the numbers analyzed, I ended the interview.

Also, making statements such as "ten years ago, when you were in diapers." I figured the lady was nervous - when I showed her the studio portfolio and described what her position would be, she actually turned white! I was eager to hire her, based on her resume. She only had to pass the audition (make three standard designs that everyone in the industry can do). Standard audition time is 20 minutes. I ended up giving her 45, after checking on her a couple of times and seeing no designs made. What a shame. She left in tears.