....having a job. That isn't what I originally planned for this week's post. It was going to be about color in nature, but then I got an e-mail this morning that changed my mind.
Yesterday, I served on an interview panel for a municipal entity in a city near where I work. It was for an accountant's position. The last candidate of the day was a gentleman, probably in his mid to late fifties, who has been out of work for a couple of years. It was a painful interview. His interview skills are lacking, though based on his resume, his accounting skills are not. There were long pauses between the questions and his answers. I could see, as the interview progressed, that we were all trying to softball the questions and trying to coach him to good answers. This morning, he sent me an e-mail thanking me for the interview - standard stuff. I felt so bad. His skill set isn't really the right one for this job - but I'm sure it will be for some other job - but with his poor interviewing skills, I think he may continue to be out of a job for a while. I am very lucky to have a good job that I like and that is secure. I am very happy not to have to be out there pounding the pavement.
3 comments:
It is very sad to see so many people out of work and for long periods of time. I feel so blessed to have the job I have now and it took a whole year of pounding the pavement to find this one, even though I had a job while I was looking. I did find it rough at times and was once told after interviewing and getting to the point of reference checking that I wasn't qualified for a position when I knew in my heart that I met all the qualifications...it was hard to hear. I later found it is was all about money and that they didn't want to pay me my requested salary. I so wished they had been truthful with me because for awhile afterwards, I questioned my qualifications at times. Sadly, it is too bad that someone can't let the gentleman you interviewed know about his interviewing skills to help him in future interviews.
When the appointment is made and he is told he doesn't have the job, and why, would it be worth giving him feedback about his interviewing skills as well? That might just make the difference for him when he applies for the next job.
(I've interviewed quite a few people, and it never ceases to amaze me how people can talk themselves out of the job.)
I do sometimes think that jobs & promotions tend to go to people who excel at self-promotion -- while equally qualified but less self-confident candidates get overlooked. Not entirely fair, is it?
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