Dan Wilbur
Frankly speaking, anyone looking for a job right now is in a decent position. People need employees, apparently.
Still, it never pays to be a jerk. Unless, of course, you’re already the CFO or something. Then, you can do whatever you want and then write a book about successfully managing a team because nothing matters.
Someone on the Reddit board r/LifeProTips shared a story about why your job interview starts the second you walk into the building. Sadly, the man interviewing for the job failed before the real interview started.
That got people in the comment talking. First, let’s check out the story for ourselves.
Here is the story of one man failing his job interview because of a small trick at the reception desk:
Here’s how it all started.
“Today, a candidate blew his interview in the first 5 minutes after he entered the building. He was dismissive to the receptionist. She greeted him and he barely made eye contact. She tried to engage him in conversation. Again, no eye contact, no interest in speaking with her. What the candidate did not realize was that the “receptionist” was actually the hiring manager.
Uh oh. This will not end well.
She called him back to the conference room and explained how every single person on our team is valuable and worthy of respect. Due to his interaction with the “receptionist,” the hiring manager did not feel he was a good fit. Thank you for your time but the interview is over.
The moral of the story:
Be nice to everyone in the building.
Some people had follow-up questions, and the writer tried to answer them. It was him, not them.
It wasn’t just lack of eye contact. He was openly rude and treated her like she was beneath him. When he thought he was talking to the decision maker, personality totally changed. Suddenly he was friendly, open, relaxed. So I don’t think this was a case of social anxiety.
The position is a client facing position where being warm, approachable, outgoing is critical.” –u/sawta2112
How did the internet feel about this little trick interview? Let’s see:
1. Bosses should also be nice.
“Goes both ways. I once turned down a job because of the way the HR guy spoke to the receptionist.” –fluentindothraki
2. Even if it weren’t a trick… be kind.
“I’ll add as someone who’s been on every step of the hiring ladder, even if the receptionist wasn’t the hiring manager, that receptionist will still get her two cents in at the water cooler while decisions are being made. In a few fields I’ve worked in, it wasn’t just the people in the conference room that were consulted before making an offer. Be on point at all times, every employee is a potential team mate and they’re all assessing you.” -anonymous
3. Stop sharing company secrets!
“Do we want to tell people this? Let the rude people fall away. Let this be a hiring practice for decent companies.” –hereforthensfwstuff
4. Be on the lookout.
“Companies often have you sit in the lobby 5-10 minutes before your interview, assume you are being watched.” –roadtrip-ne
5. A success story.
“A few jobs ago, I caught the elevator on my way to the interview. The chatty guy in with me…. company CEO. I got the job, luckily I am all high energy and friendly when nervous, so he liked me even before I saw him a few hours later. Be nice to everyone.” –oksani
h/t Reddit: r/LifeProTips
