Interview Q

[waverly]

Would you bring in someone for an interview that in their description of themselves they said strong willed.  Is that code for difficult?

The person sounds like a hard worker, but that doesn't matter if they are difficult. 

[supertrooper1]

I don't think someone that was difficult would describe themselves that way. Usually difficult people don't realize they're difficult. I think they were trying to describe themselves as a strong problem solver, strong willed to get through problems.

[mommyatty]

I would bring them in but would ask a ton of questions to determine what they mean. Do they mean they stick to things? Are determined? Or that they’re a dog with a bone that won’t let go until they get their way? If someone else called them strong willed, that would be a no. But it’s a head scratcher that they said it about themselves.

[k3am]

My first assumption is that the person may not be a native English speaker.

Do you phone screen before you set up an interview? I would probably flush out what they meant by it before bringing them in for an interview.

[phdmomma]

I would bring them in, strong willed can mean a variety of things.

[mellym]

Jun 16, 2020 10:44:14 GMT -5 supertrooper1 said:

I don't think someone that was difficult would describe themselves that way. Usually difficult people don't realize they're difficult. I think they were trying to describe themselves as a strong problem solver, strong willed to get through problems.

+1. I would bring them in.

[waverly]

I forgot how many people simply don’t read things. I have applicants emailing me questions that are all in the job posting. I feel like I have to spell it out sooo much.

[k3am]

waverly, I probably miss some good candidates, but if one can't take the time to read a job posting, they just failed step 1 of the interview process. =\

[rere]

I don't think that was a good choice of wording. I would ask several questions on what they meant by that and examples.

[waverly]

Jun 16, 2020 15:18:45 GMT -5 k3am said:

waverly, I probably miss some good candidates, but if one can't take the time to read a job posting, they just failed step 1 of the interview process. =\

Yup. I’ve had people get all the way to showing up on the first day with wrong information even though I verbally told them the correct info twice, and put it in the offer letter. This time I’m putting it in writing for the preinterview and during the interview and the offer letter.

[waverly]

Ironically, this person did not show up for the interview. We've been messaging on Indeed, and I wonder if the messages always work on there because days later it will say unread message but have nothing new on there. But I didn't see a message from them. Maybe they wanted me to double confirm the interview, but they could have double checked if they didn't feel there was enough confirmation.