When interviewers behave badly

When I first began writing my blog, there was a concern that lingered in the back of my mind that I would run out of topics to address. However, human behavior is both bizarre and fascinating, and always provides me examples to which I can speak. A few years ago, I wrote about some of the most outrageous interviewer behavior to which I had ever been privy. Guess what? It’s back. I received this email from a client:

Years ago, I told you how I had been delivering a presentation as part of an interview process and that in the middle of it, one of the people in the room interrupted me and asked me if I was almost done because he needed to run out and grab lunch before his next meeting. Needless to say, I was unimpressed by the hiring team and by the company. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a recruiter for the same company to see if I would be interested in another role for which they were recruiting. After confirming that “lunch guy” was not part of this team, I agreed to proceed. 

I had higher hopes for this interview. It couldn’t possibly be as bad as the last one, right? Well, you be the judge. The interview was conducted via videoconference, and when the hiring manager joined, the first thing I noticed was that he was missing a tooth. I understand that dental implants are costly and time-consuming, but this made for a horrible first impression. This guy was supposed to be the face of the company. I couldn’t help but wonder if the company had a sub-par dental plan. Or maybe he just didn’t care about his appearance. All I could think was that as an educated, experienced professional, I would not go to any business meeting, especially an interview, without all of my teeth. He also made a backhanded dig, asking me if I was a stand-up comedian. Maybe this guy is missing a sense of humor along with his molar.

I decided that I need to write this company off for good. If they can’t be on their best behavior when interviewing candidates, what would it be like to work there? 

I keep saying that interviewing is a two-way street and that candidates evaluate employers as much as hiring managers assess talent. But it doesn’t seem to sink in, and far too many employers treat candidates with disrespect and even disdain. This story is unbelievable while simultaneously wholly believable. Employers—you don’t get to complain about a perceived lack of talent or a “skills gap” if your own house is not in order. Get your hiring managers some formal training on interviewing techniques and coach them on presenting themselves properly and how to court candidates.

Contrary to what you may believe, you don’t hold all the cards. You need talented people to drive your business forward—your broken recruiting practices are repelling them. While I don’t have a particular issue with the molar (or lack thereof), I do think a backhanded dig is no way to make an interviewee “feel the love.” I also don’t know what prompted the interviewer to respond in this manner during this engagement. The bottom line is that positive communication and engagement are part of interviewing. This person’s behavior reflects poorly on him; moreover, it does nothing for the company's overall brand that he is supposed to represent.