Obvious Interview Tip #2

Well, this is actually an obvious "applying for a job" tip, but could easily apply to interviews as well.

Don't tell your female recruiter that you were expecting to speak to a man, and then tell her that you need to speak to her boss when you're not getting anywhere in the recruiting process.

I was once recruiting for an position in a male-dominated field. A gentleman had applied for the position and I had not called him for a phone interview because I noticed that he had 5 million short-term temporary positions (this is a field where temp positions frequently turn into regular positions so this was a red flag.) He called me and the first words out of his mouth were, "I was expecting to speak to a man." He then went on to explain that he would like to come in for an interview. I informed him of our recruting process and told him that IF we were interested I'd contact him about a phone interview.

Maybe a week later he calls back to tell me that, he's highly qualified, and that he really needs a job, so I need to "hurry up and call him in for an interview." I again explain the process. He then says, "Well, I need to speak to your boss, what is his name?" I said, "Well, her name is X, but she's not involved in the recruiting process." I also basically told him to knock it off with the calls as he was not helping his chances.

He ends the conversation by telling me (again) that he really needs a job, and that he's had all these temp positions and can't figure out why he hasn't been hired on full-time yet. I wish I could have said, "Gee, I wonder if it's your sparkling personality."

A Train Wreck of An Interview

I was in a fast food restaurant that rhymes with Bendy's while eating my lunch I overheard an interview being conducted by the manager of the restaurant and a prospective employee. It was quite possibly the worst interview I'd ever seen in my life, and there was plenty of blame to go around, but the interviewer would give any HR person chills up their spine.

• He opened the interview by stating, "Oh, I see you worked in Canada." And then asked, "Is that where you were born?" She responded yes, and he followed up with, "So you're Canadian?"


• He asked how she'd get to work, and she stated that she could take the bus, walk, or get a ride from her husband. To which he responded, "So you're married?" followed by, "What does your husband do?"


• Hannity and Colmes was playing loudly on the flat screen in the dining area.

So, what's wrong with this?

Umm, number one, we don't ask peope about their national origin as it is not relevant as long as they are legally able to work in the US. At first, his bringing up Canada seemed like small talk gone wrong, but the more he asked the more it seemed like he might have an issue with her being Canadian.

Number two, what does her being married or her husband's job have to do with her being a quaified candidate? I was scared he was going to next ask her whether her husband approved of her working outside the home. It's 2008 people not 1948.

Finally, Hannity and Colmes? While there is nothing illegal about Hannity and Colmes playing during an interview, and I understand the need to entertain your dining guest, it just seems like it'd be hard to concentrate on the interview with Hannity flapping his gums.