What would be the one thing that put you off hiring someone?

[greyrabbits]

Of all the things that would put you off giving someone a job, what’s the one thing that’s a definite no thanks.

Drug taking

No where near as competent/qualified/experienced compared to the others that apply?

Looking bored or unprepared.

Poor timekeeping

If they said something sexist or racist or extreme far right in the interview. Completely without context.

That they reeked of BO.

That they clearly had no interest in the job, had no experience and hadn't done any research so barely even knew the sector in which the company was based.

If they propositioned me sexually during the interview.

When their eyes glazed over as I explained the fundamentals of the job. The nature of the work was that there was a lot of on the job learning, and verbal feedback and I needed people who could focus. Once I figured that out my staff retention rate shot up.

Reasons I've discounted people at interview

• inappropriately dressed
• bad smell
• not prepared
• misjudging the audience when giving a presentation

Fortunately the above doesn't happen terribly often.

Shortlisting should mean that all those being interviewed are capable of the role. Interviewing is about seeing who is the best fit.

Not seeming to realise it’s a job where work is required - ie it’s not all about what you get from it and how this helps your own 5 year plan … it’s also what you can actually do and are willing to contribute

Lack of communication skills - clarity & preciseness vs waffle waffle waffle, answer the question I actually asked vs the one you prepped

(I hire grads)

An arrogant know it all .

I am also put off when its the candidate's turn to ask questions and they are all about terms and conditions - eg. annual leave, overtime etc.

These are questions for negotiating if you are offered to the job and are deciding whether to accept.

Use the interview to find out more about the role e.g. what is the culture like? what do the panel enjoy about working there? what do the panel see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in the role? etc.

If they stated their pronouns.

I got turned down once for a c-suite role because I got on too well with the CEO. We had a frank and friendly talk about it afterwards, where she said she needed someone different to her, and that we'd spend half our time chewing each others' ears off with our ideas, leading to groupthink.

I always shifted out CVs where men described their passion for a named team. Liking football was one thing, using your precious CV space to describe your devotion to the Red Albatrosses was just too gauche to endure.

Tattoos, coloured hair, stating their pronouns. Any of these three would be a straight no from me.

Complaining about their previous employer.

So much this! We are doing seasonal recruitment at the moment and I can totally relate. Not grads but internal staff from the other part of the business applying for seasonal temp roles.

Telling me how they thought I should be doing my job rather than giving examples of how they would achieve the objectives of the role they are interviewing for. As a senior woman in tech, this happens more often than you might think.
Also, the chap who called me ‘darling’ and ‘girlie’ during the interview was an instant NO, obviously!

How do you know they have tattoos if they can be covered by clothes?

You'd not have a clue I had tattoos if I wore long sleeves.

I’ve Interviewed over 100 people and no one has ever propositioned me or made racists remarks. Where on earth do you work where you think that would happen?

Completely lacking in self awareness.

'Well my old manager was shit so I had to do everything'
'My weakness is xxxx.....' (gives absolutely nothing as to what they are doing to work on it)'
Waffles on about lots of important sounding topics but not the actual job - stop trying to tell me you are the smartest in the room, talk to me about how you can do the job.

My petty one would be perfume or aftershave. I just can’t stand the smell of either and couldn’t bear having to spend time with someone where I couldn’t escape it.

Not dressing appropriately, not asking any questions, arrogance, lack of confidence; it’s fine to be a bit nervous but should have confidence in your skills and ability.

There have been plenty posts on here where the AL entitlement was important and absolutely would not settle for x Surely it's better to know of the starting block rather than wait until an offer is made? Being evasive means it's the minimum legal limit usually.

Companies should be transparent from the off anyway about AL, compensation (depending on whether it's fixed or not) and if overtime was available.

Overpowering smell. Either BO/breath or wearing perfume.

It's a horribly unfair thing to inflict on other colleagues. Worse than hiring someone who won't do the job, or hasn't got the experience, or is lazy, or inappropriate, etc. You would literally be hiring someone who is going to make your existing staff's working lives intolerable.

😲
I've known some excellent ppl with pink hair and/ or tattoos.

Some of the most amazing people I work with are covered in tattoos, I’m talking about highly respected professionals.