My first interview was with for the position of recruitment consultant. I was asked into an office and waited 10 minutes for a manager to interview me. Smiles all round his face he subjected me to a 'relaxed' interview where the only answers he wanted were about my hobbies and interests. 30 minutes past and I seemed to have convinced him I wanted the job. He said I'd be contacted for a second interview within the week.
Bearing in mind I was in Lancaster and the position was in Slough, you can imagine I wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of traveling the length of the country yet again for what could be a pointless chat! Instead I met the previous bloke's boss, a woman who as she walked into the room I could tell she wouldn't think twice about branding herself 'top dog in a dog eat dog world'. She sat, I sat, we began talking about my ambitions, my skills, my availability. I was ticking all the boxes. She then asked me about my sales experience; I had already told her I had no work experience, to which she frowned. ok, one box wasn't ticked. I asked her about the importance of being a salesman in a recruitment position... she said it was very important, and then criticised my general appearance/attitude/approach to life by saying I couldn't possibly interact with my colleagues if I was always shy.
I explained this was my first interview, and that I was naturally the kind of guy who smiles and takes things easy instead of jumping round the room with excitement, and maybe knocking a few heads in the process. I told her about my previous experience leading various teams and providing positive results. She said the people I would work with were always 110% all the time and I would be expected to go out to the pub for drinks every Friday. I quietly thought 110% is 10% more than possible, and I want a job not drinking budding who sounded like pricks.
The final stage of the interview was a test. Apprentice style. I had to think of a product in 6 minutes and detail the marketing and sales budget. She came back in with a guy holding a calculator. I gave my presentation. She was not impressed, she asked me if I thought of the inflation that applied to the cost of renting factory space in China... whatever.
She had clearly chosen the right candidate before my interview, the questions had nothing to do with recruitment, and she didn't take into account the fact I had NEVER done this before!
Recruiters beware! I'm on to you!
