I've never had a candidate show up in flip-flops and T-shirt, had a kid in tow, or took a cell phone call in the middle of the interview. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen to me. 99% of interviews are hum-drum affairs where the candidate always plays it safe. The most exciting interview I had was when a candidate vowed that I'd be a fool not to hire him and that his goal upon being hired would be to "get me promoted so he could take my job." That kind of confidence was refreshing - he never did take my job (and get me promoted) but he did end up being one of my better hires.
I can't help but think this article is a total fabrication, concocted by a bored journalist who couldn't find a real story to write about.
Its just a collection of worse case stories, one out of 10,000 kinda sampling...
Most folks I’ve interviewed have presented themselves appropriately, but I have seen highly inappropriate attire. Unfortunately for that woman, half of the interview panel was female. And the males wouldn’t even look at her - didn’t want an EEO complaint.
That is very refreshing. Most HR types I have met have never made a mistake. Ever. Just ask them.
I am sure your attitude allowed you to hire some very qualified applicants who might have otherwise declined the position.
“The most exciting interview I had was when a candidate vowed that I’d be a fool not to hire him and that his goal upon being hired would be to “get me promoted so he could take my job.””
Not very original, a movie cliche.
I reread your post and I may have caught the disconnect. You state that you are a hiring manager. Can I assume that there is a HR department that sends you the cream of the total applicants? That would be why you never see some of the horror stories. They are told that they will be called and never are.
I believe the story.
I’ve interviewed people for a professional job who have:
___ Shown up wearing flip flops (with dirty feet even)
___ Had multiple piercings
___ Have told me intimate details about their life
___ Have told me if I didn’t hire them they *could* file a discrimination lawsuit.
___ Have told me they will not work for a female boss.
___ Have reeked of cigarette smoke.
___ Have taken cell phone calls during the interview.
___ Have brought a young kid (and had it wait in the reception area where she asked the receptionist to watch him)
___ Have lied about having a degree.
___ The usual mispellings on resumes.
In addition, I know another person who took an interviewie to lunch who brought his own chopsticks to eat with (the person wasn’t Asian and it wasn’t an asian restuarant).
I was the headhunter for faculty for a major university for many years. I interviewed daily.....all professionals with Masters degrees or doctorates. I never had 1 interview even close to any of these stories.
I tend to agree with you.
I'm making a generic newspaper. I think I'll add this article, along with "Pope Denounces Violence," "Lindsay Lohan Behaving Strangely" and "Flaw Found in Microsoft Operating System."