This didn’t come from the mailbag, just a real conversation.
Question:
We’re glad that you’re here. We have a candidate down the hall. Our interview team has talked to him and everybody likes him. Can you spend a few minutes and see if you like him, too?
Response:
Sounds like an innocent question. But, no. Whether or not I like a candidate, makes no difference in the selection process. If you want to sit down with a role description and determine what capability, what skills, values and behaviors we need in that role, then you and I can have a conversation. Our conversation will help to craft 50-60 questions to ask the candidate.
But, in the end, I am not accountable for the performance of the selected candidate, it’s the hiring manager. I get to go home, the hiring manager is accountable for the output of the team. Part of that accountability is for the selection of team members.
Doesn’t matter if I like the candidate.
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Pre-registration is closed, but you can still sign up for our online program Hiring Talent, Hiring Talent. You can find out more information about the program, here. We released the Orientation yesterday, June 6, 2011. No one can be added to the program after this Friday.
There must be a secret to both sides of this – I’ve been on both, I find it far more complicated as an interviewee than an interviewer – I like to think I’m a good judge of character but have made mistakes – strangely I never get a good read of an interview afterwards, think honesty is a big factor – there’s a few slippery eels out there!