Don’t Interview With Me With the Window To Your KIA down – Act Your Age…

Maren Hogan Culture, Generations, Interviewing, Maren Hogan, Recruiting

When I was first married, I bought a strand of pearls. Not because I like pearls or could afford pearls, but because I thought it was the thing to do, now that I was a married woman. (I also had a faceful of piercings, it was a confused time). The thing about those pearls is that I always, (nearly ALWAYS) act like a lady when I have them on. Some weird placebo effect.

I wish that we all had some sort of talisman against bad manners (some ideas: twinsets, kitten heels,Emincar Mary Tyler Moore hair; for the gentleman: a silk kerchief or ummm, golf shoes?) Of course, people can’t act appropriately if they were never taught. So the generation raised on talk shows (people interrupting others) or electronic applications (can operate in underpants) may not immediately realize the effect their inadvertent gaffes might have on their elders and/or those of us who were given Emily Post’s book upon “womanhood”. Yeah, really.

Manners and treating people right – It’s a two way street.  Interestingly, companies that have an advanced ATS, diversity awareness and comprehensive talent strategy often overlook the simple things that can make talent feel comfortable:

– Can I take your coat?
– Is there a place we can meet to discuss?
– Thank you for coming in today.
– Please fill out this application and someone will be down shortly to assist you.
– We’ve chosen another very qualified applicant. We appreciate your participation and wish you the best.

And then there’s the talent/candidate side.  I did hope I would not have to pick on the (ahem) talent. But I wanted to ensure that you (precious lifeblood that you are) understood the, um, issues behind a superstar becoming a DUD. These are real life situations and should be taken very seriously.  Candidates have the following responsibilities when it comes to manners/common sense/acting like a human:

– Do not ask your boss for a 4K loan, particularly before the months mark, no matter how close you feel
– Do not falsify time cards if you are a 1099 employee
– Work a forty hour workweek if that is what you are being paid for
– When the boss calls you on the company cell, don’t ask, “who’s this?”
–  Do not get hammered at company events and embarrass the company
– DO NOT TAKE AN INTERVIEW IN A LOUD LOCATION OR WITH THE WINDOW OF YOUR KIA SEPHIA DOWN

No matter how talented or competent you may be at your job, there are things that are manners (some might say ingrained integrity but let’s not go there now) based. Learn these fairly simple, somewhat global, rules of how to treat people and you will go far (whether client, candidate or recruiter). Believe that your professional merit lifts you above such petty nonsense?  Don’t be so sure…

I pity the fool.