I still smile just thinking about this. I was watching Top Chef Masters on Bravo the other day, and one of the contestants, a passionate and outspoken chef from France, reminded me of a man I once interviewed for a major university. Let’s call him Jacques.
Jacques seemed highly qualified for the manager position, at least according to his resume. He was also well-spoken and personable. I did the initial phone interview and decided to bring him in for a group interview with other managers and his potential boss. He was as charming in person as he was on the phone, and when it came to the technical questions, he aced every one. It looked like I had found a good one. Yay!
And then I asked the interview question that did him in. I explained there are people at a higher level who are not easy to deal with and will sometimes look you in the eye and tell you you’re wrong, even if you know more than they do and even if you know 100% you’re right. I then asked him what he’d do if that person kept telling him he’s wrong. And without blinking an eye he said “I’d punch him in the nose!”
You should have seen how quickly our smiles shifted to looks of utter disbelief. I thought maybe he was kidding, and even clued him in that I hoped he was kidding, and asked again what he would REALLY do. Well…he said it again, with elegance and style I might add, and went into an impassioned tirade about how this is the only way to deal with people like that. (Picture all that with hand gestures and a beautiful accent.)
If you haven’t guessed, this is not the University way.
The job interview turning point
I could almost see the moment my boss mentally branded a big NO on poor Jacques’s forehead. No recovery. No chance. No way. Her body language shifted and he was done.
But we finished the interview anyway; and he was absolutely professional the rest of the time. It was all so weird (and frustrating) that this polished, well-spoken man could have thought his interview response even remotely acceptable. A few of us liked him anyway and thought maybe…just maybe… if we carefully explained how things are done here, he’d be worth considering. But that one response made him dead meat in my boss’s eyes. And I’m sure in most boss’s eyes.
Now I can’t imagine there’s anyone reading this who really thinks “I’d punch him in the nose” is a good interview response. But just in case you do….please please please know that it isn’t. Nor is anything like that.
Still, there are those days – such as when power-trippers at the University make our lives miserable – we turn to each other and say “We sure wish we had Jacques!”
Have you ever said something in an interview that you wished you could take back? Have you ever interviewed a candidate who shocked you with what they said? Do you ever wish you had Jacques?
Got an interview coming up? Here are some posts that might help:
Job Interviews: Where Do You See Yourself Five Years From Now?
Job Interviews: What’s Your Greatest Weakness?
Job Interviews: What’s Your Greatest Strength?
I was once interviewing an art director for a job at the ad agency where I worked. I explained that while we tried to maintain a good work/life balance, there were occasional long hours. When I asked if that would be a problem, he answered, “Depends on the salary.” For me, the interview was over then. The salary is what you use to decide whether or not you will take a job, not how hard you’ll work at it. The hapless art director realized his faux pas pretty quickly, I think, and later tried to back pedal, expressing great enthusiasm for the potential job, but I had already moved on at that point.
When I read your post title, I thought you must be speaking metaphorically. Oh, my!
I was once asked “Do I get mileage?” when interviewing a candidate for a receptionist’s position. Which involved no driving.
Perhaps your interviewee got mixed up and thought he was interviewing for University Bouncer?
Hi Terry B! Great story. Good example how loose lips can sink ships. Job interviews are not places for flip remarks. Not that we aren’t tempted sometimes!
Hi Muse! Hah! yes. That must be it. And there are times we can use a university bouncer! As for the mileage question…sheesh! I’m not sure I could have kept myself from laughing out loud. Just reminds me how much people need help with things those of us who have been around for a while take for granted.
I know I owe you a visit. Will try to pop by soon.
OK… one from each side of the table.
Way back when I was an EE/CS double major, I had a case interview with a major computer company. The interviewer described the technical details of the case and, clearly, had not noticed the breadth of my training. So, when she finished with “Any questions?” my response was, “Would you prefer a hardware or a software solution?” Instead of an appreciation for my potential versatility, the tone of her voice when she answered, “Software of course.” told me the interview had ended.
Years later, I was interviewing MBA candidates for a position in corporate strategy at a large industrial company. As part of the interview, I always tested the candidate’s resourcefulness at getting information critical to validating a strategic analysis. (It’s not just how you solve the case… but how you’d get the information to solve it!) When I asked one candidate how he’d get certain market information, he responded, “Well, I’d just have a junior analyst look it up for me.” Dude… when you’re interviewing for an entry role (no matter how senior), YOU are the junior analyst. Interview over.
Hah! These are great Dan G. Thanks for sharing both sides of the interview table with us.
Bummer that first interviewer was so close-minded, but clearly you went on to do very well without that job. I always see these interviews as 2-way streets. You lucked out since the first company probably wasn’t for you anyway. Still laughing at the MBA candidate’s painfully naive response. Ouch. Hope he wised up eventually.
Thanks again for the terrific stories, Dan G!
I needed someone to work on my website, so after reviewing several candidates via email, it came down to a few people I wanted to interview by phone. One guy had basically the same answer to every question I asked, “Yes, we can do it for $5 an hour.” No matter what I asked, the answer was basically the same. Between his low-ball figure (which was obviously because the work was to be done outside the country) and his inability to hear my real question about my technical concerns, his interview was over in about five minutes. Of course I wanted a good price, but $5 an hour told me I was going to get crap.
Hi Susan!
Thanks for the story. Just amazing. This guy was sure he was selling a concept you couldn’t resist, but he made the most serious mistake any salesman – or interviewee – can make…not listening!
So what’s the answer to that question though? If the people on top keep telling you you’re wrong even though you’re probably right…what do you say to them? Or at least what do you say you’d say in an interview after being asked that question? I’m curious because I’m just starting out and probably don’t have the experience to know what a right and wrong answer that would be…of course I don’t have to be in business long to know not to say what that guy said…but what’s a good solid answer that the interviewer, in this case you, is looking for?
Good question Mallory. Unfortunately a full answer is basically a course in management & leadership skills as well as effective people-handling skills. Let’s just say a person qualified for the position Jacques was interviewing for should have learned that punching someone in the nose within an organizational environment (or probably anywhere) would not only be ineffective at influencing behavioral change (beyond the moment), but it would most likely get him/her fired and be prosecutable in a criminal court.
That’s why the real skills of a truly successful business career are found in what you say, how you say it, whom you say it to, and most of all managing your emotional intelligence & conflict resolution skills. You’ll note boxing and kung fu are not part of the requirements for an MBA.
Although come to think of it…they do teach about patience, learning about and respecting your opponent, and working hard to turn your strongest abilities into an art form. All useful in business skills.
~ Ronnie Ann