Tuesday, December 14, 2010

who needs them




Dress up (Ladies I feel your pain), drag myself through sub-zero wind chill weather, just to spend time answering questions.

Press conference? No just a job interview.

I’ve been on both sides of the table for interviewing and not surprisingly I would rather be the interviewer. I assume it’s my age but who knows maybe certain interview questions were just a passing trend. I was NOT asked where I would see myself in five years. I wish I was asked. My answer would have included warm sand and drinks with little paper umbrellas.

I guess it went well. I talked to three different people. Having multiple interviewers is good idea because everyone has a slightly different approach.

Cut to the chase - Those words didn’t come out but the thought was hanging there in my brain. If I had a cartoon bubble over my head they could have read it. Cut to the chase and tell me if I’m even in the running for this job.

When I think about interviewing this true but very unusual story surfaces from my deep memory.

Many years ago our development was looking to expand. I was part of the interview team.  I felt a little excited to share my interview discovery with the others in the post interview discussion.

I remember telling the others that I was shocked by what I had learned. I don’t remember if any of the others heard the same information but I think at least one other did.

The shocking revelation from the interview - this guy lived with a wolf. This was Illinois and I don’t think we even had wolves in the wild at the time. It could have been that all the wolves had taken in by guys like this guy. One man, one apartment, one wolf.

It was a deciding factor for me. Reject this one.  This was an engineering group, not a zoo. I don’t know if PETA was even around back then but they would not have approved.

Strange thing happened at the end of the hiring discussion. Wolf man was hired.

He lasted a few months but surprise, surprise he didn’t seem to get along with others in the group. It wasn’t looking too good for wolf man as the year ending.

Then on Christmas Eve, I received the strangest call. Wolf man calls me (before cellphones) while I was at my mother’s house. He has tripped the security alarm at the office. Why was he even at the office on Christmas Eve? I don’t know maybe wolves don’t celebrate Christmas. I had to call my boss who being closer was able to go over and reset the alarm.

A few weeks later wolf man was fired. Bad wolf. Dumb choice.

Oh, they didn't ask if I lived with a wolf but I recommend adding that one to your list of questions.

15 comments:

Bearmancartoons said...

What if they lived with Wolfman Jack?

joaniemack said...

Our company (a TGI Fridays franchise) was just sold and we recently found out we all (including the general manager) have to retake our validation tests (tests on the menu and a liquor test) to keep our jobs. This will surely weed out the ones who cheated like mad. Since I'm a trainer and usually give the tests, I'm hoping I'll breeze through.

Thisstopwilloughby said...

I will admit, I've never been asked if I lived with a wolf during a job interview. In fact, I don't think I've ever been asked about pets/animals at all.

There used to be a show (on Discovery or Animal Planet, I think) about a man and his girlfriend who lived with wolves. The man never used soap or shampoo because of the added scent. I guess it upset the wolves so he wanted to smell "natural". How gross is that? It makes me wonder the wolf man you knew smelled bad. Is it even possible to lives with wolves and smell good?

lisleman said...

best of luck but if you are a trainer you should do well

Kristina P. said...

Haha, that is hilarious! A wolf!

lisleman said...

I don't want to know. BTW we didn't ask he just decided to share the info.

lisleman said...

no it was a four legged one.

unknownmami said...

Maybe Wolf man should get a job as DJ.

TechnoBabe said...

It is difficult to see the "real" person who is interviewing for a job. They are at their best and are acting, not real. Getting them to relax and let down their guard is the first thing don't you think? Your instincts were right on about the wolf man, he must have had a hard time being with other humans. Good luck with the job interview result. Do you want the job? Did you tell them you want it?

lisleman said...

Funny, I didn't think about someone asking that direct question. I don't have a direct answer which in itself says something. It would be good for a number of reasons including of course money. I will not know until I'm in it, but I suspect it could be stressful work. I've had plenty of stressful work in the past and don't need that anymore. Right now it's just wait and see.
thanks, you picked up well on the "cut to the chase" idea.

Kristin_The_Goat said...

I hired people for our coffeehouse. Coffeehouses tend to attract an odd assortment of workers and ours was no exception. We had a few duds and I knew it when I hired them, but I don't know if I could have hired wolf man.

I hope you get the job that you want :)

Marlaahansen said...

I can so relate to this post having been on both sides myself. The strangest interview I ever had was with the guy that tatooed penis for a living. Don't ask.

lisleman said...

asking more - yes you are right I would not want to go there.
Good example of Don't Ask Don't Tell applied correctly.

Pat Fortunato said...

Funny about hiring people. We interviewed someone for our company years ago who seemed a little unusual, but nice. Over the weekend, I talked to my partner, who said she'd leave it up to me, and my boyfriend who said that if I had any doubts I shouldn't hire the guy. I had doubts. I hired him. He turned out to be the best employee we ever had, and is a friend to this day. Who knew? I'm told that if you're good at it, you get it right about 50% of the time. Well, that's batting 500. . .

lisleman said...

ah, I think 50% would be the same as tossing a coin so I guess being a good coin tosser is all that is required. thanks

Featured Post

Feedback can be amazing