The death of etiquette in interviews
June 3, 2008 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Behavior, Communication, Hiring, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Managers
Hiring managers describe three of today’s offensive behaviors that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Here’s the list, compiled in surveys of hiring managers by the job-search firm Vault:
Using profanity. More and more candidates don’t seem to see anything wrong with conversational cursing in interviews. About half of the managers said they’d heard
four-letter words used with abandon. And, according to the managers, most of those candidates don’t get the #%&! job.
Taking a cell-phone call. About one in four managers said a candidate had taken a call - and held a lengthy conversation - in the middle of an interview, giving new meaning to the term “wrong number.”
Bringing the kids. About 20 percent of those who responded said they’d conducted an interview with a candidate who brought children to the meeting - and not as references, either.
Some other odd behaviors raised in the survey:
- Eating. That may be OK if you’re interviewing with Subway and gobbling one of the company’s products. Other than that, fasting for the hour or so that an interview takes is much more preferable.
- Protracted nose-picking. Presumably, however, these were not the same people who were eating.
- Being obviously drunk. Might we suggest deep breathing as a better way to overcome nerves before an interview?
Tags: candidates, Hiring, interviews
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June 4th, 2008 at 11:34 am
During an interview with a legal secretary candidate, I noticed that the candidate was glancing at her wristwatch often. I thought that this was a sign of nervousness until she told me that she would like to stay and chat, but that she needed to leave because she wanted to get some lunch.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
These are some of my most memorable interview moments:
o One candidate kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged in the chair.
o One woman came in wearing a skirt that was so short it was barely decent.
”I’m so glad I dressed up today!” she exclaimed while I tried not to gawk.
o A foreign-born applicant came in with her infant. We have a lot of international workers and they don’t always know what’s customary here, so I gave her some slack and invited her to my office. But when she unbuttoned her blouse and started nursing, that took the cake.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am
We as HR professionals are the gate keepers and if we allow candidates that show such unprofessional behavior to get any further into the interview and hiring process we are to blame for the behavior the manager will get with their new hire.
I personally, would not take a candidate any further if they exhibited any of the above bad behaviors because we would not allow an employee to act in such a manner.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:59 am
While walking a candidate back to my office and making the usual “ice breaker” conversation, I had the applicant interrupt me to ask how long the interview would take. I told the applicant the whole process would take about 90 minutes. The applicant said “that won’t work for me,” and when I asked why the app said “well I have another interview in 30 minutes.” I walked the applicant back to the door and said “well if you leave now you’ll probably make it.”
June 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I have been surprised to see that tardiness for the interview is more common than a few years ago. The job candidate barely even apologizes for it these days.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
My pet peeve while interviewing is when candidate constantly say “you know what i mean”. I tell them no, please elaborate, and guess what, they cant.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Due to the nature of the job, the position requires the person be available on call when its their weekend to be on call. I asked the applicant if the would have a problem being on call, the responded “no, unless I’m drunk on my butt!”
June 9th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
We had a young lady come in last week to check on her application. She came in with her boyfriend whose mother works here. He asked to see his mom and while someone went to get her they sat in the lobby and waited. While there were plenty of seats available( we have a small sofa and several chairs) she sat on his lap and with his hands literally all over her they proceded to make out like they were in the back seat of a car.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Cleanliness and appropriate dress are my biggest pet peeves as applied to the position interviewing for. I’ve barely been able to sit in some interviews with applicants for administrative positions whose clothes were clearly stained and omitted foul stench. Other candidates have been dressed as if applying for a position in a brothel (no pun intended). These individuals wonder why they are not hired…
July 4th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
What is the best way to study for PHR? From the books? CD? I have taken the test recently and none of the questions wording is anything i have seen in the book or the tests on cd .