Thursday, September 13, 2007

you're hired....????!!!!!

The job search / candidate search is kind of like going out on a blind date. Sure that friend of a friend's aunt said that his cousin was nice but what do you really know. Having been on both sides of the table recently I had to laugh when I came across this list of actual expediences recruiters and hiring managers have had with potential candidates. I think my favorite is #13. We should all be able to "phone a friend" if we are not sure what the right answer is.

  1. Candidate said he was so well-qualified [that] if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent.
  2. Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
  3. Chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles.
  4. Candidate kept giggling through serious interview.
  5. She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time.
  6. Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.
  7. Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.
  8. Asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
  9. Announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office.
  10. Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview.
  11. Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president.
  12. Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
  13. Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
  14. Wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police.
  15. When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.
  16. Had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him.
    (I've actually brought my DS to an interview but I think it was relevant.... I think ...)
  17. Bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet.
  18. Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
  19. During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.
  20. He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time.
  21. She threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.