bobbysamd
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 5,710
It's not always the applicant's fault . . . .
Ever consider that some people are rejected because of incompetent, unfair or unprofessional interviewers? No, I'm not making excuses for myself, and you'll see why if you care to read on.
The aviation example I cite the most is my Mesa Airlines interview in 1990. At that time regional jets were being developed. I had read about them in professional pilot magazines. My interviewer at Mesa was Grady Reed, who was VP of something-or-another. He had asked if I had any questions. I asked Mister Reed if Mesa had planned to acquire RJs. His response was "no," and he was clearly annoyed with my question. I was not hired. Of course, we all know that Mesa later became a leading CRJ and ERJ operator, and even puts 300-hour MAPD grads in their right seats. I learned later that "Mister" Reed did not enjoy a great reputation as a Mesa executive. The more important lesson I learned was not to ask questions during an interview.
My best non-aviation example is an interview for a paralegal position I attended six-and-a-half years ago. I arrived about fifteen minutes early and had announced myself to the receptionist. I sat and waited, and went back to the receptionist. Twenty minutes after my appointment was to start, out comes my interviewer. This was the office manager, and she claimed she had to speak with a hard-to-reach vendor. When she turned to salary, she asked my expectations. I had been trained never to give a figure but to try to determine the salary range and respond accordingly. I had always sucessfully used the response that given my experience and qualifications that I was sure the employer would make a fair offer. I also knew the typical salary range for someone with my experience. She then demanded my range, which was within that range. Her somewhat abrupt response: "What may be fair for you may not be fair for us." That crack was unprofessional. I was not hired, and was glad, because I've always believed that a company's interview process offers a valuable peek into its culture and how one will be treated as an employee. I sent that woman a followup thank-you letter, but wished thereafter that I had never sent it because she did not deserve it.
Conclusion: Be prepared for your interview, be on time, dress appropriately and act professionally. Do your best. But, remember that a lot of luck is involved in getting jobs, and, despite your best efforts, an incompetent or unprofessional interviewer can be your undoing.
Ever consider that some people are rejected because of incompetent, unfair or unprofessional interviewers? No, I'm not making excuses for myself, and you'll see why if you care to read on.
The aviation example I cite the most is my Mesa Airlines interview in 1990. At that time regional jets were being developed. I had read about them in professional pilot magazines. My interviewer at Mesa was Grady Reed, who was VP of something-or-another. He had asked if I had any questions. I asked Mister Reed if Mesa had planned to acquire RJs. His response was "no," and he was clearly annoyed with my question. I was not hired. Of course, we all know that Mesa later became a leading CRJ and ERJ operator, and even puts 300-hour MAPD grads in their right seats. I learned later that "Mister" Reed did not enjoy a great reputation as a Mesa executive. The more important lesson I learned was not to ask questions during an interview.
My best non-aviation example is an interview for a paralegal position I attended six-and-a-half years ago. I arrived about fifteen minutes early and had announced myself to the receptionist. I sat and waited, and went back to the receptionist. Twenty minutes after my appointment was to start, out comes my interviewer. This was the office manager, and she claimed she had to speak with a hard-to-reach vendor. When she turned to salary, she asked my expectations. I had been trained never to give a figure but to try to determine the salary range and respond accordingly. I had always sucessfully used the response that given my experience and qualifications that I was sure the employer would make a fair offer. I also knew the typical salary range for someone with my experience. She then demanded my range, which was within that range. Her somewhat abrupt response: "What may be fair for you may not be fair for us." That crack was unprofessional. I was not hired, and was glad, because I've always believed that a company's interview process offers a valuable peek into its culture and how one will be treated as an employee. I sent that woman a followup thank-you letter, but wished thereafter that I had never sent it because she did not deserve it.
Conclusion: Be prepared for your interview, be on time, dress appropriately and act professionally. Do your best. But, remember that a lot of luck is involved in getting jobs, and, despite your best efforts, an incompetent or unprofessional interviewer can be your undoing.
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