Job Search Rule #18 - Don't be pushy!

[I toyed with calling this rule "Don't be a Pain" - I just may re-name it yet.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!]

A few months ago I was filling a sales job for a client.  I had a candidate scheduled to interview at 10:00 AM - let's call him Russell.  When I walked by the lobby at about 9:40 AM, I noticed a very large man standing directly in front of the receptionist's desk.  He wasn't hovering so much as he was looming over her.

I went back to my desk and called Tanya.  Knowing that the candidate couldn't hear me on the phone I asked, "Is that Russell?"  She said, "Yes."  I asked if she had offered him water and a seat.  Again she said, "Yes."  Hmmm...so why is he looming over her, I wondered.

I went back out to the lobby, greeted Russell and introduced myself.  I explained that the interview team would be ready promptly at 10 AM, asked if he would like something to drink, and suggested he have a seat while he wait.  To my shock he replied, "No thank you, I am comfortable right here." 

At 9:57 AM I escorted Russell to the interview room where in short order we discovered the rationale behind his mysterious looming behavior.  After a few introductory questions, our Sales Director asked Russell to describe his approach to securing appointments with decision makers.  Here Russell's face lit up. He placed his elbows on the table, leaned forward, and gleefully explained how he had learned to use his size as an advantage in his career.

"When I am waiting for an appointment," he said, "I always remain standing.  This way the company knows I am serious, so they take me and my message seriously.  Perhaps you noticed how I stayed standing in front of your Receptionist.  You probably came out to greet me faster than you would have otherwise, right?"

Well...he had me there.  I did go out to greet him prior to 10 AM.  But that was because Tanya was a valued member of the company and I didn't like the idea of anyone bullying her (which is how I interpreted this poor fellows behavior), or just plain being a pain in the neck to her.   It's interesting to note that Russell was also breaking Job Search Rule #17.  He was fighting a battle with Tanya that he had already won - he had an interview scheduled, he didn't need to bully her to get in the conference room faster!

Needless to say, Russell didn't get the job.  Lesson for job seekers?  Treat everyone with respect.  Don't be pushy....and don't be a pain, either!

Comments

[almostgotit]

How 'bout "don't be CLUELESS?"

Poor guy indeed, trying to demonstrate his snazzy sales panache. That he really does use this technique when trying to make a sale (to "get them to come out faster!") when he *already* has an appointment is bad enough; that he thinks it's ever okay to use intimidation (physical size; looming) to make a sale is even worse. Weirdest of all, though, is that either he just came up with this little approach and has never actually used it, (and thus is lying) or else he *HAS* used it and never noticed that it didn't work.

Can you even teach someone like this?

[bruce]

Would you even want to?

This guy just stinks of dumb, at least as the story's told. Not socially inept, or inexperienced. Just plain dumb.

Seriously, who (aside from the mob maybe) wants a big goon bullying their customers?