Why managers should respect job applicants

I’ve been a victim of rude human resource (HR) managers several times. It’s discouraging taking a leave of absence from my current job to suffer the indignity of answering irrelevant job interview questions and be shooed away after less than 15 minutes of a face-to-face interview. Worse, some managers did were late. Aren’t managers supposed to have good manners? – Pissed Off.

Meeting rude hiring managers is one of the reasons why you should not jump right away into every job interview opportunity without first doing your homework. Investigate the background of the manager and the company they’re representing. These days, it is easy given the availability of information on social media. If the manager concerned is not on social media, Google their name and organization.

Do your due diligence. Why take chances on changing employers if you’re not in a hurry to get another job? 

I agree that irrelevant questions should not be asked. They’re a waste of time. Why ask about the applicant’s employment history when it’s already stated in the curriculum vitae (CV)? Any questions asked must not be immediately apparent from the CV. Hiring managers must focus on asking questions about job situations, such as — how would you manage an irate customer, if you’re applying for a customer service job.

Equally important, if your interviewer is late for more than five minutes, abandon the interview right away. It’s not worth it. A tardy interviewer is a red flag. If they’re interested in you, they will move heaven and earth to meet you. Try it. You’ll feel good about leaving.

SELF-RESPECT
Most books and articles on employment are for the benefit of job applicants. They’re geared towards giving the best answers to killer job interview questions, but not much is said about how job interviewers and HR managers should conduct themselves in interviewing applicants. Why is this so? Some interviewers take the opportunity to power-trip. But what for?

Whatever an interviewer does with applicants is a reflection on the organization they’re representing. If an applicant is disrespected, it could lead the applicant to no longer patronize the company’s products or services. Worse, the applicant may write a complaint to the chief executive officer (CEO) about how the job interview went.

Former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was right: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Even if the CEO fails to reply, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re sure that it was received.

Therefore, hiring managers must conduct every job interview with utmost decency and professionalism towards all applicants. To do this, HR managers and interviewers must do the following:

One, express genuine interest in dealing with applicants. Every manager must know how to handle interviews professionally. Be on time. Offer a firm handshake. Break the ice with small talk. Smile. Make eye-to-eye contact. Put the applicant at ease. And so on.

Two, spend at least 30 minutes with each applicant. Don’t decide based on a single mistake they make. By asking all applicants questions about job situations, you will be able to identify your best candidates. Try asking questions that have significant bearing on the job description.

Three, ask for the applicant’s value proposition. As soon as you’ve completed the interview, allow applicants to elaborate on his or her value statements. Discover characteristics that would make them unique. Expect to hear a brief but powerful summation of the skill and experience that person can bring to the organization.

Four, allow applicants to ask questions after the interview. A job interview is not a one-way street. In fact, applicants must be judged not only by the quality of their answers but on the questions they ask. These may include: “Why can’t you fill this position internally? How strategic is your succession plan?”

Five, provide a clear roadmap on how to go forward. “Please don’t call us” is discourteous. If you don’t want to be bothered with follow-ups, be clear about it in your job vacancy ad with a statement like: “Due to the numerous job applications that we’re receiving every day, we regret to inform you that only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the result of our hiring process.”

Last, offer a sincere ‘thank you’. Professional courtesy is one thing you mustn’t ignore. Being considerate can enhance your image. Again, imagine the amount of time, effort and little money applicants spend to show up for a job interview. Take some time to appreciate the opportunity to meet them.

Have a chat with Rey Elbo via Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or send your workplace questions to [email protected] or via