Community Chat

[Vivian]

I worked at a large university for many years. One of my responsibilities was interviewing students who were planning to change their majors within the university. One time a student walked in for his interview in shorts, flip flops, and a Greatful Dead tee shirt. That wasn't the problem. What was most upsetting was the can of beer he was chugging. He placed it on my desk and started chatting. What a way to impress an interviewer...NOT!

[cotton4me]

Perhaps on some level she really doesn't want the job so she may be subconsciously sabotaging herself.

[Justina rae]

I'd make sure to offer her some constructive criticism if she shows up.

I once had an interviewer almost nod off on me. I know I'm not the most exciting person, but...

[I am still oxox]

On 4/2/2015 Chrystaltree said:

I haven't even interviewed the candidate yet and I already know, I won't hire her. She looks good on paper but she's already proven that she's not responsible or dependable. We arranged to interview her almost two weeks ago; she requested an early morning interview and we set it up for 8am. She called at 7:55 to say that she was "running late" and couldn't make it before 9am. At 9:10 she called and asked if we could reschedule the interview, preferably after 4pm. I wasn't thrilled but we rescheduled to this afternoon @ 5pm. At 4:45, she called to say that she couldn't make it because....because....she has to do some Easter shopping for her children. She really said that! She acted like it was no big deal. So, I rescheduled her interview for tomorrow at 4:30. Maybe she'll show up, maybe she won't. I don't care. It's now just a formality, I'll talk to her for 15 minutes and send her on her way. Obviously, she isn't terribly interested in the job and I'm not at all interested in her. People never fail to amaze me....

I would be just as rude as she is and send her a text 10 minutes before the interview says sorry I have a conflict I will get back to you .

[Justina rae]

I'm very surprised at all the ""bash the interviewee"" responses. No doubt she is rude and/or ignorant but this is a great opportunity for someone (in this case the OP) to maybe enlighten her and set her straight in a constructive way. A lesson learned might be the greatest favor anyone can do for this interviewee (maybe not) and maybe it would be a profound influence on the way she conducts herself in the future not only professionally but personally too.

I always try to give someone the benefit of the doubt and do things constructively. No I would not give her the job but I don't think a ""t*t for tat"" response is doing anyone any good. It stoops to the level of the interviewee and continues the cycle of rude and insensitive behavior. Why not try to create a positive outcome?

[raven-blackbird]

On 4/3/2015 Justina rae said:

I'm very surprised at all the ""bash the interviewee"" responses. No doubt she is rude and/or ignorant but this is a great opportunity for someone (in this case the OP) to maybe enlighten her and set her straight in a constructive way. A lesson learned might be the greatest favor anyone can do for this interviewee (maybe not) and maybe it would be a profound influence on the way she conducts herself in the future not only professionally but personally too.

I always try to give someone the benefit of the doubt and do things constructively. No I would not give her the job but I don't think a ""t*t for tat"" response is doing anyone any good. It stoops to the level of the interviewee and continues the cycle of rude and insensitive behavior. Why not try to create a positive outcome?

...............raven

[mstyrion 1]

On 4/3/2015 Justina rae said:

I'm very surprised at all the "bash the interviewee" responses. No doubt she is rude and/or ignorant but this is a great opportunity for someone (in this case the OP) to maybe enlighten her and set her straight in a constructive way. A lesson learned might be the greatest favor anyone can do for this interviewee (maybe not) and maybe it would be a profound influence on the way she conducts herself in the future not only professionally but personally too.

I always try to give someone the benefit of the doubt and do things constructively. No I would not give her the job but I don't think a "t*t for tat" response is doing anyone any good. It stoops to the level of the interviewee and continues the cycle of rude and insensitive behavior. Why not try to create a positive outcome?

Great post!

I agree. The candidate is on completely the wrong track, but if one could make it a successful teaching moment, the world would be just that little bit better.

[Kalli]

On 4/3/2015 mstyrion 1 said:

On 4/3/2015 Justina rae said:

I'm very surprised at all the "bash the interviewee" responses. No doubt she is rude and/or ignorant but this is a great opportunity for someone (in this case the OP) to maybe enlighten her and set her straight in a constructive way. A lesson learned might be the greatest favor anyone can do for this interviewee (maybe not) and maybe it would be a profound influence on the way she conducts herself in the future not only professionally but personally too.

I always try to give someone the benefit of the doubt and do things constructively. No I would not give her the job but I don't think a "t*t for tat" response is doing anyone any good. It stoops to the level of the interviewee and continues the cycle of rude and insensitive behavior. Why not try to create a positive outcome?

Great post!

I agree. The candidate is on completely the wrong track, but if one could make it a successful teaching moment, the world would be just that little bit better.

I agree that you could use this as a teachable moment. And the compassionate side of me wants to agree. But, honestly, if i were the interviewer I don't know that I could justify taking more time away from other things at my job to "teach" this person. The job of this company is not to remediate her.

I think if you call her and say, "Thanks for your interest. The position has been filled", she might reflect and consider that she is responsible for losing this opportunity.

Lesson learned (if she's smart enough to draw the conclusion). If not, there isn't much hope that spending extra time with her will alter that.

JMHO

[mstyrion 1]

On 4/3/2015 Kalli said:

On 4/3/2015 mstyrion 1 said:

On 4/3/2015 Justina rae said:

I'm very surprised at all the "bash the interviewee" responses. No doubt she is rude and/or ignorant but this is a great opportunity for someone (in this case the OP) to maybe enlighten her and set her straight in a constructive way. A lesson learned might be the greatest favor anyone can do for this interviewee (maybe not) and maybe it would be a profound influence on the way she conducts herself in the future not only professionally but personally too.

I always try to give someone the benefit of the doubt and do things constructively. No I would not give her the job but I don't think a "t*t for tat" response is doing anyone any good. It stoops to the level of the interviewee and continues the cycle of rude and insensitive behavior. Why not try to create a positive outcome?

Great post!

I agree. The candidate is on completely the wrong track, but if one could make it a successful teaching moment, the world would be just that little bit better.

I agree that you could use this as a teachable moment. And the compassionate side of me wants to agree. But, honestly, if i were the interviewer I don't know that I could justify taking more time away from other things at my job to "teach" this person. The job of this company is not to remediate her.

I think if you call her and say, "Thanks for your interest. The position has been filled", she might reflect and consider that she is responsible for losing this opportunity.

Lesson learned (if she's smart enough to draw the conclusion). If not, there isn't much hope that spending extra time with her will alter that.

JMHO

You have a point, kalli.

I think I read that the OP has to do the interview even though the candidate won't get the job. As long as she's committed to doing the interview, she can use the time for teaching. At least then it's not a total waste.

[chickenbutt]

From a more realistic POV, people who are that profoundly self-centered won't 'get' it. This interviewer isn't her mother and has no responsibility to try and school the person.

But I can see the point that it would be a good opportunity to teach this person some manners. I just think that it would be an exercise in futility. I've known enough people like that who I've tried to help and no matter what you say, how you explain it, and how many times you try, they just cannot see beyond their own selfish little circle of concern.

They will start on the blame game - everybody, but them, is to blame. Then it's just all about how they feel and why don't you understand how THEY feel. Not one iota of understanding as to how YOU feel because they block all that out, or just plain don't have the capacity to understand how anybody else feels. It's frustrating, to say the least.

I still have somebody like that in my life (in the periphery, thankfully) and I had to just give up trying to get her to understand how her constant and never-ending complete lack of manners and consideration for others was affecting other people. It's like talking to a rock and it's been that way with every single person like that, that I've ever tried to get to understand how their poor behavior, lack of consideration, and lack of common courtesy affects others.