“I won’t hire him because he couldn’t get the ketchup out of the bottle.”
That was the explanation the manager gave Human Resources for not hiring a market research analyst. Horrified and aghast, they complained it wasn’t a fair reason.
Consider this…
During a luncheon interview, the candidate for a market research position attempted to get the slow moving ketchup out of the bottle and on the plate. After couple failed attempts to shake and pound it out, he quietly gave up and ate his meal condiment-less.
He Didn’t Cut the Mustard
By giving up on the ketchup, he didn’t cut the mustard!
The hiring manager said: “I need a market research person who will explore all avenues and not give up in pursuit of answers and information or going after what he wants. He could have tried harder, used his knife, or even laughed at the challenge. But he gave up and settled for something less than what he wanted.”
When interviewing people, whether for an internal position, as a vendor, supplier or business partner, provide opportunities where they can demonstrate the skills, attributes and qualities that you want on the job or in that relationship. Many times the most important information is gleaned in non-traditional ways, rather than in a structured interview.
Consider the conversations and interactions in the hallways, over lunch or on the golf course. As the sayings go, “if he cheats at golf, he’ll cheat you too” or “if she’s rude to the waiter, she’ll probably be disrespectful of others.”
If you are clear about the skills, talents and attitudes you want in your relationship and you’re sure that thoughts, words and actions are clear and consistent, there’s a greater likelihood of cutting the mustard!
Marty Stanley, CSP, is a national speaker and consultant on personal and organizational change. If you’re looking to clearly define and align your personal and/or organizational leadership practices, give Marty a call today: 816-695-5453 or 858-432-6764. martystanley@alteringoutcomes.com www.alteringoutcomes.com www.linkedin.com/in/martystanley
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Marty, I found this (perhaps fictitious) manager’s viewpoint perplexing. Did it ever occur to this manager that maybe the candidate wanted to focus more on the conversation and learning about the other people at the table and less on a ketchup bottle? That maybe he didn’t want to use a knife and risk splattering himself and others with ketchup? Or, maybe the candidate is flexible and can adapt to different situations? “No ketchup, but I’ll enjoy this meal and this conversation.”
You’re right on target about gleaning information outside the traditional interview process. How candidates interact from the moment they make contact with a company is very important.
I submit that if the hiring manager wants to know how the research analyst would respond to a challenge, he could set up some kind of mock situation and see what the person does. Basing a candidate’s suitability on something as subjective as how they deal with opening a ketchup bottle is shortsighted and in my view, an indication that this manager might not be a picnic to work with.
Keep up the good work with the blog! Find your perspective valuable and your writing engaging.