Interview Nightmares - The other side

[MDXer]

Since this thread has picked up again, and in the spirit of thread654-844067 lets here some of the nightmares where you have been the interviewer.

"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck

 

[CajunCenturion]

First Impressions. Sad but I think True.

Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[lionelhill]

[even further off topic]...SQLSister, quite whether my wife picked me as decorative or competent I don't dare ask. But I hope you find a good receptionist; they're valuable people in any organisation.

 

[Spirit]

OK, since you're on looks and faces that fit...

I was interviewing for my replacement at my last company and a rather straggly gentleman sat in front of myself and the Director of Manufacturing and after the interveiw I ask the Director what did you think? His answer was I could concentrate because I couldn't get me eye's off his moustache......

It was one of these HUGE french revolutionary things with curly up bits and everything.....

Now I might be judgemental but in a manufacturing environment when there's a lot of.... errr.... "banter" massive facial constuctions may not be that best idea.

One of those times you had to be there I suppose..... but it was all we could do to save our dignity in the interveiw to stop us bursting out laughing.....

 

[toolmantwo]

OK people, I have a question. What is a CV? Is it the same as a resume? Or what does it contain?

Thanks, John

 

[EBGreen]

My impression has always been that a resume focuses on your credentials (ie, what degrees you have, what certifications you have, what promotions you have received, etc.) Where as the CV focuses on your experiences (ie. How big are the projects that you have managed, What is the most lines you have eliminated from a program by refactoring, how many people have you managed at one time, etc.) This is probably to simplistic but this is my impression.

[red]"... isn't sanity really just a one trick pony anyway?! I mean, all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you are good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!" - The Tick[/red]

 

[chiph]

CV = Curriculum Vitae

It's similar to a Résumé. The word is borrowed from French, where it means "Summary" (but the French actually use CVs -- go figure). "Resume" (without the accents) is acceptable spelling in the US.

There are some slight differences in actual use. In the US, Federal employment laws restrict what an employer is allowed to ask an applicant. As a result, if a résumé contains "forbidden" information (religious affiliation, race, gender, etc), it's likely to be thrown away rather than sanitized and passed on to the interviewers. So a US applicant would likely not include that sort of information in order to improve their chances of getting hired.

In Europe, on the other hand, it's quite common to see parent's names, where you grew up, religion, and possibly a photo. There, that's information which is expected to be provided, and is used in the hiring process. I've seen Asian CVs where they listed height & weight! Just different standards in other parts of the world.

Of course, there may also be differences between different industries. For example, if you're in entertainment business (including TV & Radio), a photo is required (and is often the only document looked at). Any other industry would regard that as possibly being in violation of the law, but for them, it's expected.

Chip H.

____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[sha76]

My CV (I'm in the UK) contains contact details, school/uni education, employment history, work-related courses & hobbies/intersts (could be omitted, but can provide a good ice-breaker for interviews if nothing else). They can probably work out my age & sex, but I would never state them, or any other personal details explicitly & would be suspicious of anywhere that asked. Some companies will send out a form from personnel about sex, ethnic origin, religion, etc, this should only be used as to check there is no pattern of discrimination in the company.

"Your rock is eroding wrong." -Dogbert

 

[SQLSister]

In the US CV's are generally only used for academics. Everyone else uses resumes. Resumes are expected to be limited to two pages. Many offices throw out any that are longer than that and very few managers will read past the second page even if they don't. In fact, it is best to put the most critical information on the first page as many hiring officials won't read past the first page unless they like you alot. (If you have a stack of 300 resumes to filter out, you won't read past page one unless you are interested either.) Further most employers only care about the last ten years of your work history. Also don't waste space putting in old obsolete technologies or languages unless you want a job in them. I used to program in APL and dBaseIII, but you can bet that isn't in my resume.

The worst resume I ever got - the person didn't put any contact information on it. If I want to interview you, I need an address or phone or email in order to contact you. I suppose he's still wondering why no one wanted to interview him.

Then there was the guy who put in his objective that he wanted to be a CIA agent. As we weren't the CIA, we didn't read any further before deciding not to interview him.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[KenCunningham]

I bet you're only telling us you're not the CIA because you actually are aren't you? ;-)

 

[chiph]

SQLSister -
Resumes are all about showing off your attention to detail.

Forgetting to put your contact info in it is one detail that should not be overlooked!

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[ecobb]

Forgetting to put your contact info in it is one detail that should not be overlooked!

UNLESS you were putting your resume in at the CIA!

Hmmm... B-)



Hope This Helps!

Ecobb

"My work is a game, a very serious game." - M.C. Escher

 

[JRBeltman]

As now living in London for the past 5 years, but being Dutch (Netherlands) and employing many a German, I have seen some interesting CVs.

In the Netherlands just as in GB we use 2 pages at a max.
Germans seem to have no limit. As my colleague was very surprised when I forwarded a 50 page CV to him!

We actually decided to throw 48 pages and still interview the guy and hired him! Still have to tell him how to write a CV!

Some strange things happen during these interviews.
Reading about people who can't even open a PC and tell us what is inside!

Well I had one of those. Every question I asked about IT I felt like I put a shotgun on the poor guys head and pulled the trigger. Hence he did not get the job.

BUT! Soon after I discover that he applied at a friend's company and got a job there only to be fired after 1 day!

And now he is working at our database supplier as a Helpdesk person! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! We already had little confidence in this company when it comes to their product, but this said it all!

Time to find a different CRM database!

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
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