On the Job Experience

We received an application for a Production Scheduler position the other day. The candidate was clearly entry level with experience working in a pizzeria, a deli and a retail store.

Obviously it’s difficult for an entry level candidate, even a college graduate like this one, to convince a recruiter or HR representative that they are qualified for the position. So, the candidate noted the following in his cover letter:

"I feel I've been training for jobs like these for years as my favorite computer games have always been ones where you have to economize tightly on resources. "

Nice try, but the virtual world isn’t exactly on-the-job experience!

Seven Deadly Sins Revisited

Ever since running across the “Seven Deadly Sins of Interviewing” Article (see my 3/26 Post), I’ve been trying to think of examples of our candidates committing them… After much consideration, here are a few examples:

Pride: An excessive love of self

The candidate that to hear him tell it, was an expert in all things, because he had managed the contractors and outside sources that actually did the work!

Sloth: Laziness, idleness and wastefulness

The candidate who didn’t bother to shower, change or even touch up here make-up for a morning interview after a night on the town.

Greed: An excessive quest for money and power

The candidate who suddenly decided he wanted $40,000 more a year than he’d originally stated.

Gluttony: The desire to consume more than you need

The candidate who ate with her fingers during a lunch interview

Wrath: Feelings of hatred, revenge or denial

The candidate that was very demanding, and angry that one of our recruiters would not drive to her house in order to take care of her dog while she traveled out of state for an interview.

Lust: The desire to do what you want, not do what you should

The candidate who upon arriving for his first Face-to-Face interview walked straight to the HR manager and gave her a great big hug.

Envy: The desire for what you don't have now

The best example I can come up with here is the candidates (and yes, there are several of them) that so desire that Bachelor’s degree, that they just decide to make one up!
Of course, there was also the candidate that decided he could claim to be a Manager at company he left 6 years ago, where he worked in an entirely different role.

More odd interview questions.

Experience is a jobs site tailored to the entry level/recent graduate market. The site works closely with the number of universities to manage online job postings and resume banks.

In their recent newsletter, I noticed a link to More Weird Interview Questions.

My favorites include:

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As a male, I was being questioned at an internship fair for a major retailer. One of the first questions that the recruiter asked me was: "So, why do you want to work with women's underwear?"

I was asked what I did in high school that was against the rules. I was told that the group's manager had done the cherry bombs in the toilets routine and that another member of the group had hacked into the school's computer system.

Are you Republican or Democrat? I'm pretty sure it was illegal to ask that, which was weird because it was a lawyer asking me.

Why do they make manholes round?

If you were a breakfast cereal what would you be and why?

Do you like pineapples? What do they mean to you?

If you were a pizza, what kind would you be and with what toppings?

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What is with the food questions? Maybe we should stop scheduling interviews at noon? I mean really... what kind of deep meaning is there in a pinneapple?

Business & Dead Horses

Another chuckle today, from the Evil HR Lady.

Her recent post "Business Decisions" begins with the following bit of wisdom:

..."When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount."

A selection of alternative modern business strategies follows. My favorites are:
Buying a stronger whip.
Making the horse work late shifts and weekends.
Appointing a committee to study the horse.
Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included.

I encourage you to read the full post... it's good for a laugh!

Seven Deadly Sins

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything here, but I've been waiting for something really interesting to cross my desk, and it finally did, an article from The Ladders, The Seven Deadly Sins of Interviewing.

Following are the sins and a selection of the many examples the Ladders cites. Please check out the full article, there are lots of good laughs there.

Pride: An excessive love of self
You have years of experience, you've earned respect and accolades in your field, but any arrogrance will come back to bite you. Treat each person at the company with respect and kindness, or they might find a way to sabotage your interview.

Years before I completed two degrees, I had worked my way up the ranks within a large, successful technical firm. As we conducted our annual college hire recruiting activities, one candidate from a modest background with less than stellar grades, but a newly acquired degree raved on about how no one without a degree should ever be in a management role, that anyone without a degree just wasn't qualified to be a leader. Needless to say, the candidate did not make it to the "short list" of hires.

Sloth: Laziness, idleness and wastefulness
Don't wing it! Make sure to prepare informed questions. Be able to show knowledge of your potential employer, awareness of the industry, and the company's business strategy. The level of detail in your questions should match your experience.

I had been asked by a co-worker to consider a close relative for an open position. In the interview, I asked him about the many gaps in his resume. His answer? "For a long time, I didn't get this whole 'work' thing." Since he was in the midst of another six-month gap after only a few months at his previous employer, I was forced to conclude that he was still having trouble with the concept. Needless to say, he did not get the position.

Greed: An excessive quest for money and power
Remember, first you have to get the offer. Then, you can negotiate the terms. Never ask about salary and perks in the initial interview. Set aside those questions for later... much later.

We interviewed a candidate once (and we emphasize the once!) who, within moments of sitting down in our conference room, shared her long list of compensation requirements. She also asked to see in which office she'd reside and then told us that the desk would need to be moved because she couldn't "possibly sit facing in that direction." The interview was so derailed by her list of demands, we showed her the door!

Gluttony: The desire to consume more than you need
The interviewer is trying to learn about your skills, talents, experiences, and your ability to succeed in the job - not your whole life story

When asked what she does for fun, the response I got was this: “Drink. I like to go to the bar. My husband tells me I would live there if I could.” She then went on to say that she likes chatting with her girlfriends about other men. Did you not just tell me you were married?

Wrath: Feelings of hatred, revenge or denial
The person sitting across from you – who may be your next boss – identifies more with your past bosses than she does with you. Badmouthing old colleagues will leave a terrible taste in your potential employer's mouth.

Have you ever been fired from a job? Yeah but it wasn't my fault. See I was dating this woman at work and she made me mad. I broke her arm and the company said I couldn't do that at work. I would never do that here though, I'm still dating her and she doesn't want to work here.

Lust: The desire to do what you want, not do what you should
Don't dress for your comfort, dress for the situation. Always wear a suit to an interview, even if the dress code is business casual. You might stick out like a sore thumb while you're in the lobby, but you'll never lose points for being dressed professionally (or acting appropriately!)

I interviewed a number of candidates to be a personal assistant to me. At the outset of the interview one woman told me she knew exactly what I was looking for, a "job wife". Unfamiliar with the term, but suspecting the response I would get, I asked her to further describe. In great detail she went into EXACTLY what benefits would be mine if hired. No, she didn't get the position, but I'm confident she found one (or more) to her liking

Envy: The desire for what you don't have now
Your "dream job" should the one you're interviewing for right now. If it's clear you really want to do something else, it's tough for an interviewer to believe that you'll bring all your capabilities and focus to the demands of this job.

We interviewed a recent MBA grad from a top tier business school for a marketing manager position. Not only did the candidate not research our company before hand but she also showed up for the interview wearing a tank top, torn jeans and flip-flops. After 10 min. in the interview, she managed to say that her dream job would be to open one day a little retail shop in Virginia. We sent her home in record time.

I wish we had such fun examples here... perhaps I'll ask a few of my coworkers what they can come up with?

Too Much Information (on your resume)

Too much information (on your resume)…

A very simple rule: Hobbies, personal interests and personal information should only be included on your resume if you can relate them to the position for which you are a applying.

A good example: A mechanical engineer applying for a position designing automotive safety components who builds race car roll cages in his spare time.

A bad example: A mechanical engineer applying for a position designing automotive safety components who spends his spare time cooking and painting.

A short overview of the “Personal” section of one resume:
I Married my childhood sweetheart in 1976. In 1978 the one and only spawn of my loins was born. I started trying to water ski in 1984 and by 2000 I bought a real ski boat and start trying to barefoot. I like movies and art and enjoy making people laugh. Eventually I will master the deepwater barefoot start.

Well, I got a laugh out of this, at least he accomplished that goal. But in general, I'd avoid talking about your "loins" (fruitful or otherwise) on your resume.