And the prize goes to?........................
Well there isn't a prize, but there is one candidate who showed great persistence in the face of circumstance and bizarre interview questions e.g
INTERVIEWER: If you could be an animal what would you be? (WTF?!)
So, the candidate is applying for a Trainee Sales position, entry-level 1st rung of the ladder. She's young, sharp, confident and a good communicator.
We set up an initial interview with a Senior Manager, all is good. The morning of the interview we received a call from the candidate saying her car has broken down and she won't be able to make it (how many times has that happened?). So the senior manager isn't convinced and decides not to re-interview. However, the breakdown was an ACTUAL BREAKDOWN and we obtained a tow truck receipt! So the senior manager is satisfied and we re-arrange the interview.
The day of the interview arrives and the candidate calls to say.....................she's arrived but no-one knows where the Interviewing Manager is? Now the candidate is thinking.........is this retribution? But no, its an explainable error, an email rescheduling was sent but never received. Ok, these things happen and the candidate accepts this. The Senior manager now shows why she is a well respected Senior Manager in this business. She calls the candidate to apologise for the mix-up, they have a laugh, strike up a relationship and they arrange to meet the next day.
GREAT............so the senior manager recommends the candidate to a Branch Manager for 2nd interview. This is the one with the animal question and a further 21 other questions over 1hour and 10 minutes. Feedback resulted in an 'unsure' verdict, so the Superstar Senior manager sets up another interview with another branch manager and another hour and 15 minutes (no animal questions). Feedback on location was not positive and he hired a local candidate.
The Superstar Senior manager took control and offered her a position training with a TOP manager and working out of two locations, so.......................
The candidate receives a well-deserved job OFFER!
This candidate, never moaned, never quit, never blamed anyone, she just kept picking herself up, turning up and doing her very best to make an impression and secure a job. She got there in the end and I hope she goes on to prove herself an asset to the business.
The superstar senior manager was a pleasure to work with, she believed in the candidate and made it happen without trying to influence her sales managers to hire.
ME, well I hope she shows those managers they missed out and I hope she repays the faith the senior manager has shown in her.
About the Author:
Jon D'Costa has been a Mortgage Industry Recruiter for 24 years. Jon previously worked as a Mortgage Advisor and managed a team of 30 mortgage advisors.