March 20, 2009

• Interviews

  So... as we all know the economy isn't so hot right now.  The job market is overwhelmed with applicants and lots of them are extremely high quality making it very much a "buyers/employers market."  I mean, we placed an add back in January during the MegaJobs weekend and just finished up interviewing the Tuesday before last (I hate Tuesdays).  Let me expand on that just a smidgen... looking back at my calendar we interviewed 67 people in 33 business days.  Keep in mind, I work from a different office on Thursday's so I'm not here.  I am going to entertain myself with some of my notes.  I'm sure anyone reading this won't find it half as entertaining as I do, but I don't write for you so get over it 

  Day 1: First Interview, 9:00 a.m.

  • Appearance: VERY unprofessional, tight/ill fitting clothes - skirt so tight around @$$ that the slit in the back is hanging on for dear life not to just let loose the rest of the way up... NOT in a good way
  • Considers herself a "clean-up" lady... going in behind everyone else and fixing their mistakes = interpretation, okay with being an office b!tc#
  • Once called a customer a jack-ass = interpretation, she'd never get along with loan officers
  • Loves working with people and interacting directly with as many people as possible = interpretation, social butterfly - would probably spend the first 45 minutes of each day chatting it up
  • Looking for job security = interpretation, she's unhappy at her current job and thinks that's a safe answer... we're a mortgage company
  • Not recommended for hire

  Day 16: First Interview, 9:30 a.m.

  • Appearance: Arms crossed and scowling when I walked in - she arrived 35 minutes early for her interview and I made her wait 40 before I went in.  I hate it when people are obscenly early to an interview. 
  • Very difficult to understand, she's missing 3-of her front teeth (2 on top, 1 on bottom)
  • Tide-Pen commercial... talking stain... she has a talking hairy mole on her chin... very distracting
  • Currently a receptionist, hasn't done this particular job for 7 years
  • Works well with difficult sales workers
  • Will find a way to get the job done
  • Recommendation; She has the right attitude... Rate her a B+, maybe if she gets the job she can get some teeth, we have great insurance

  Day 16: Third Interview, 3:00 p.m.

  • Appearance: Very clean, crisp, professional (reminds me just a tad of Grandma)
  • Wants to get back into the industry
  • Talker - a lot of personal stories
  • Willing and able to do any job we ask her to do, other than underwrite
  • Keeps TALKING!
  • Considers herself knowledgable, also sociable and nice (won't let me get a word in)
  • Pointless banter
  • More personal stores
  • Recommendation; Length of interview?  1 HOUR 45 MINUTES!  Number of words out of my mouth?  23... Number of times she interrupted me so she could keep talking?  4... NO WAY should we even consider hiring this woman, none of us would ever get any work done.

  Day 27: Second Interview, 2:00 p.m.

  • Appearance: West Virginia
  • Didn't realize she was applying for this position, thought it was a receptionist position (didn't she read the ad?)
  • Average number of loans in pipeline each month?  She actually answered: "6+6+3+2+2+1... about 11 or so"
  • Talks a lot about God... but then says she's been known to have personnel issues; i.e. "I pray a lot and try to keep calm... you know, just let it go and let Him take care of it," then later, "Well I know I've had attitude issues and I have a short temper, but I'm working on that.  I do know I tend to get real bitchy sometimes."
  • Not recommended for hire

  Day 33: Very Last Interview, Thank You Baby Jesus, 3:30 p.m.

  • Appearance: Very very sharp.  Nice suit, pressed shirt, coordinating tie... his wife dressed him
  • Extremely nervous, keeps fidgeting and shifting his focus around the room
  • Worked his way up from entry level to current level over several years, could pitch in anywhere along the process to help where needed
  • Asked for a situation where he turned a negative situation to a positive and he totally threw LO under bus w/borrower.  Saved the loan though.
  • Seems to think very highly of himself
  • Told him it was okay if he relaxed a bit... he kicked back and threw his feet up on the conference table
  • "Big on ethics and overall fairness"
  • Personal thoughts: My gut is telling me to stay away... this candidate = personnel conflicts
  • (not my note... but hiring manager offered him a job anyway... he flaked out and never returned the calls)

  • 9:03 am
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