Okay, one more, I wish I would have seen this thread a few days ago.
When I hire, the reception is instructed to observe the applicant when they drop off the application ( having boyfriends, girlfriends, hubby's or wives, help with the app won't make it. It's my business... all staff members must have a working brain). When the applicant drops of an application, after they leave the staff rates them on a 1 to 10. The rating is on overall appearing, eye contact, and communication skills. I don't mind casual cloths, but don't drop off an app in a swimsuit, or wearing sunglasses inside, clothes to show off your great (in your mind) body or tattoo's.
I only interview 8's to 10's that pass the application screening. No major spelling errors, readable handwriting (not good handwriting, I just have to be able to read it). And a decent job history, 4 jobs in 3 yrs is not good for me either. Upon interview, they need to be on time, dress like they want the job and not have major job restrictions.
By the way, my favorite interview question goes like this. I inform them they need to have basic math skills and then I go into a speech about handling stress on the job, there is a small to med. amount of stress in our field from time to time. I look them in the eye and ask how they handle stress, they always say they handle it well. Now they are ready for the question, what is 4 times 13? then I just look at them and say nothing, just wait for the answer. Talk about stress for the applicant, I not only get to see how they handle stress, but I get an insight to their thought process, can they logicly figure out 4x13. Most of the time they speak out load while figuring out the problem, for example a logical way to figure it out goes like this; 4x13... 4 times... is 40... 12 it's 52. A statement or mumble like that tells me they are using their brain and they can handle stress. By the way more than 90% get the answer wrong, so I have grown to depend more on how they handle stress and their thought process than their incorrect answer. I then explain the reason for the question.
Never had one hike their dress up
maybe I'm too ugly
Alan
