Tirade from a hiring manager

[Sum_guy]

ok less a tirade than a couple of comments to those of you applying to jobs. This is coming from someone that is currently hiring and I've done a lot of hiring in the past for junior/senior and clerk level roles.

People hiring are reviewing a lot of resumes- for one job I had over a thousand applicants. Currently after 3 days I had over 150 applications, so we pulled the posting. Understand that after a while most of the applicants kinda blend together.

Two pages max for your resume. With close to 20 years of experience I find it hard to get my resume down to two pages, but I can. If you've had one job you and you send in a three page resume you're basically pissing someone off. Be brief, remember someone (maybe HR) has to dig through a ton of nonsense when hiring.

HR is your friend - never ever treat them with disrespect. If you have a question, problem ask the HR rep. They are there to help and they are some of the most helpful people in the entire process.

HR is in charge of hiring for corporate fit, they can't be specialists in those 'hard' skills that I want as a hiring manager. Understand that and allow them to see that you have both the soft and hard skills. Make sure that you point out that you know Cobol in your resume if that's mentions in the job ad. Don't bury things like that - this goes back to the two page resume.

Plan for strange. During one interview - a film crew did a taping of a riot scene on the street. That was distracting for that candidate. Maybe you'll have an impromptu interview back to back - bring an extra resume. One time another manager and I interviewed one applicant at the same time for two different but similar jobs. Stuff like this happens all the time.

Send a thank you note - pull out one thing from the interview that made an impact and relate it somehow into that note. Part of this is that the hiring manager may have blended you into one of the other 5 candidates.

Just a short list of common errors I see when hiring. YMMV.

[Buggy166]

"One time another manager and I interviewed one applicant at the same time for two different but similar jobs. Stuff like this happens all the time."

thats a new one:lol:

[BryceS]

"One time another manager and I interviewed one applicant at the same time for two different but similar jobs. Stuff like this happens all the time."

thats a new one:lol:

TD Securities did this to me back in January of this year.

[nalababe]

"One time another manager and I interviewed one applicant at the same time for two different but similar jobs. Stuff like this happens all the time."

thats a new one:lol:

This is not uncommon at all...especially for lower irentry level jobs.

[thestar99]

I have spoken to several HR managers and most of them mention thank you cards/letters are waste and does not separate you from the rest. They also mentioned it is a sign of desperation.

[Abel4Life]

I have spoken to several HR managers and most of them mention thank you cards/letters are waste and does not separate you from the rest. They also mentioned it is a sign of desperation.

It is all case by case. The standards of one hiring manager over another will vary. I appreciate the input of the OP's stance on hiring from his perspective. Granted, there is no 'best practice' as there are just many variables that come into play during the hiring process.

[Truemana]

I have spoken to several HR managers and most of them mention thank you cards/letters are waste and does not separate you from the rest. They also mentioned it is a sign of desperation.

That might be true depending on the hiring manager, but I have to say I appreciate it when people understand the process and me very well. I like to see thank you letters and very targeted cover letters because it means they "get it"; they care enough about their career and professionalism to play what is almost a game with peculiar rules. However absurd and useless some may see those rules to be, some one who plays the game well demonstrates how much they care when they play the AFM peculiar game.

[Xiaohaibao]

I shouldn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview. I send my resume with my application as a pdf. If you need two copies, then you can print two copies, it doesn't cost you anything. You can print a million copies of it, I don't care. Most people doesn't have a printer at home and I shouldnt' have to have the inconvenience and expense of having to stop at Staples to print my resume.

[Xiaozhuli]

I shouldn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview. I send my resume with my application as a pdf. If you need two copies, then you can print two copies, it doesn't cost you anything. You can print a million copies of it, I don't care. Most people doesn't have a printer at home and I shouldnt' have to have the inconvenience and expense of having to stop at Staples to print my resume.

You have a point but it looks unprofessional if you don't have a copy of your own resume when you come to an interview. You can argue with the employer if you wish but you will probably lose. And most people DO have a printer at home... or just head to the library and print a few copies. That's part of the job-hunting process.

[dc200]

I didn't do any of that and still got the job I wanted looloollolo

Maybe it was because I was only two weeks out of uni and wasn't too concerned about the possibility of being rejected.

[navigator416]

Without seeming hostile, why should I send you a thank you letter? I've shown my appreciation by arriving on time and conducting myself professionally. A thank you letter should not speak more than how well I interviewed or my experience/qualifications.

[Firebot]

I shouldn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview. I send my resume with my application as a pdf. If you need two copies, then you can print two copies, it doesn't cost you anything. You can print a million copies of it, I don't care. Most people doesn't have a printer at home and I shouldnt' have to have the inconvenience and expense of having to stop at Staples to print my resume.

:facepalm:

It's called being prepared and being a professional. If you can't even prepare for your own interview properly and expect the other side to take up your slack, you don't deserve a job period. I've been asked at least 25% of the time at interviews if I had a copy, for multiple reasons. It's also good to have in front of you. Would you go to a business meeting without any business card, hoping that he still has your card from a few weeks ago? Of course not.

[Elfer]

That might be true depending on the hiring manager, but I have to say I appreciate it when people understand the process and me very well. I like to see thank you letters and very targeted cover letters because it means they "get it"; they care enough about their career and professionalism to play what is almost a game with peculiar rules. However absurd and useless some may see those rules to be, some one who plays the game well demonstrates how much they care when they play the AFM peculiar game.

This is something that annoys me about the hiring process, it rewards those who are better at the "game" aspect of it. It's not necessarily unfair, but it is a bit goofy.

That said, I do send out thank you letters as a matter of courtesy (although I have skipped it in cases where the person/company clearly didn't have any respect for their applicants). Usually I send one to my main contact for the interview and one to the HR rep I was involved with. I feel like an HR rep who actually connects me with a good opportunity in a company is legitimately deserving of a thank you note, convention or no.

[umop]

How important is GPA? Do you even look at it?

What advice would you give to someone who's looking for a job but has no relevant work experience (ex. university grad who spent summers working in McDonalds/factories)?

[kuhai2001]

I shouldn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview. I send my resume with my application as a pdf. If you need two copies, then you can print two copies, it doesn't cost you anything. You can print a million copies of it, I don't care. Most people doesn't have a printer at home and I shouldnt' have to have the inconvenience and expense of having to stop at Staples to print my resume.

To Mr or Miss Xiao

No one asked you to dress up in suit.
No one asked you to be punctual
No one asked you to research the company
No one asked you to bring a copy a resume.

Or
No one asked you to wipe after you ****

If it is a troll post that's fine but if you are serious, it is time to learn the basic manners of attending an interview

[BananaHunter]

I'm not a manager but I've been involved in hiring decisions. I'll add that hiring decisions are made by people, not machines. There's no such rule as "always send a thank you letter". You COULD get a job without showing up on time/bringing your resume/sending thank you letter etc...It's just that your chances are lower. I don't buy that there's a manager that will hate you for sending thank you letter. But certain things like showing up late or dressing like a bum are universally vilified. Candidates with strong interpersonal skills are able to "read" people and get a sense of what the manager is like (often through small talk).

If you're a job seeker, my advice is to stop thinking about a job interview as a ritual with particular steps and requiring you to memorize a script during interview. Landing a job is about showing that you're a good fit and that you're better than the other candidates. Think about what the job entails and how you fit into it. All the etiquette skills are to show that you can handle yourself in a professional manner in the office.

In general, it doesn't really hurt to send a thank you letter. It's a question of cost vs benefit. It'll take you maximum 20 mins to write it and press send. Unless you have glaring grammatical errors, the letter can't hurt you. The key is that you should write something sincere. Don't just take a thank you letter template. A good thank you letter shows that you were listening. You should be able to take out 1-2 key things discussed in the interview and say how that makes you a good fit.

I have to disagree to OP about HR people. Where I work, HR people are worthless. All they seem to do is shuffle paper and delay the hiring process. They force all managers to add an extra layer of annoyance to the hiring process. I work in a large organization.

[Truemana]

This is something that annoys me about the hiring process, it rewards those who are better at the "game" aspect of it. It's not necessarily unfair, but it is a bit goofy.

That said, I do send out thank you letters as a matter of courtesy (although I have skipped it in cases where the person/company clearly didn't have any respect for their applicants). Usually I send one to my main contact for the interview and one to the HR rep I was involved with. I feel like an HR rep who actually connects me with a good opportunity in a company is legitimately deserving of a thank you note, convention or no.

I don't doubt it sounds goofy to a lot of people. A lot of people assume hiring should be a formal, logical process such as buying a new TV. If the boxes are all ticked off and the price is right, go for it. I would say it's closer to buying a family house. There's plenty of logical criteria to meet (location, cost, layout), but a lot of touchy-feely stuff like the colour, types of neighbors and "home" feeling. A resume and cover letter is like the MLS ad and the interview is like the showing. In fact, much like a persons attitude or dress in an interview, a home's current state might not reflect its actual potential. I'm sure a lot of people refuse to buy a house because it didn't "feel right" (sound familiar?). A seller has to advertise to its potential audience and play the "game" (ie, house has to smell nice, be clean and organized).

Note: I've never bought a house, but I felt this explained my opinion well.

[Abel4Life]

I'm not a manager but I've been involved in hiring decisions. I'll add that hiring decisions are made by people, not machines. There's no such rule as "always send a thank you letter". You COULD get a job without showing up on time/bringing your resume/sending thank you letter etc...It's just that your chances are lower. I don't buy that there's a manager that will hate you for sending thank you letter. But certain things like showing up late or dressing like a bum are universally vilified. Candidates with strong interpersonal skills are able to "read" people and get a sense of what the manager is like (often through small talk).

If you're a job seeker, my advice is to stop thinking about a job interview as a ritual with particular steps and requiring you to memorize a script during interview. Landing a job is about showing that you're a good fit and that you're better than the other candidates. Think about what the job entails and how you fit into it. All the etiquette skills are to show that you can handle yourself in a professional manner in the office.

In general, it doesn't really hurt to send a thank you letter. It's a question of cost vs benefit. It'll take you maximum 20 mins to write it and press send. Unless you have glaring grammatical errors, the letter can't hurt you. The key is that you should write something sincere. Don't just take a thank you letter template. A good thank you letter shows that you were listening. You should be able to take out 1-2 key things discussed in the interview and say how that makes you a good fit.

I have to disagree to OP about HR people. Where I work, HR people are worthless. All they seem to do is shuffle paper and delay the hiring process. They force all managers to add an extra layer of annoyance to the hiring process. I work in a large organization.

Define HR though?

I think you are referring to Recruiting/Talent Acquisition

HR can be:

Compensation
Recruitment/Talent Acquisition
Benefits
Performance/Talent Management
HRIS/HRMS
Associate Relations
Labur Relations
HR for different levels - Regional, Global, etc.
Payroll - More of a finance function but can integrate with HR
Learning and Development (Training)
HR Shared Services.
Workforce Management
etc.

But you get the point.

If your specifically referring to the 'Recruitment' function of HR then I tend to agree regarding red tape, layers, delays etc. But generalzing HR as just paper pushing as a whole IMO is not right. By working in a large organization I'm sure you have variations of the above mentioned.

[spike1128]

I don't doubt it sounds goofy to a lot of people. A lot of people assume hiring should be a formal, logical process such as buying a new TV. If the boxes are all ticked off and the price is right, go for it. I would say it's closer to buying a family house. There's plenty of logical criteria to meet (location, cost, layout), but a lot of touchy-feely stuff like the colour, types of neighbors and "home" feeling. A resume and cover letter is like the MLS ad and the interview is like the showing. In fact, much like a persons attitude or dress in an interview, a home's current state might not reflect its actual potential. I'm sure a lot of people refuse to buy a house because it didn't "feel right" (sound familiar?). A seller has to advertise to its potential audience and play the "game" (ie, house has to smell nice, be clean and organized).

Note: I've never bought a house, but I felt this explained my opinion well.

What you were saying sounds about right. It also depends on who has more weight on the final decision.

[Elfer]

I don't doubt it sounds goofy to a lot of people. A lot of people assume hiring should be a formal, logical process such as buying a new TV. If the boxes are all ticked off and the price is right, go for it. I would say it's closer to buying a family house. There's plenty of logical criteria to meet (location, cost, layout), but a lot of touchy-feely stuff like the colour, types of neighbors and "home" feeling. A resume and cover letter is like the MLS ad and the interview is like the showing. In fact, much like a persons attitude or dress in an interview, a home's current state might not reflect its actual potential. I'm sure a lot of people refuse to buy a house because it didn't "feel right" (sound familiar?). A seller has to advertise to its potential audience and play the "game" (ie, house has to smell nice, be clean and organized).

Yeah, I know, but I would say that the "game" aspect leads to a perverse incentive to mislead the interviewers about your personality. It creates a situation where people who are better at interviewing are more likely to get a job whether or not they're actually suited to it.

If you want to compare it to buying a house, the equivalent concept would be a great room (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_room). Not actually that useful, but was frequently included in house designs because it makes a good first impression on people during showings. It's actually an interesting phenomenon in itself; think of any house you've seen that has a large room with high ceilings, it's almost always visible from the main entrance. It's not actually there for utility, it just makes a good visceral impact when a potential buyer steps in for the first time.

[Rainne]

HR are like teachers.

Sometimes they like you, sometimes they don't. Nothing you can really do about it, do what you're good at and move on. Play their game to stay in good terms with them.

[Xiaohaibao]

:facepalm:

It's called being prepared and being a professional. If you can't even prepare for your own interview properly and expect the other side to take up your slack, you don't deserve a job period.
That's funny, because I have a great job and I didn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview to get it. How is that possible? :-0

[Xiaohaibao]

To Mr or Miss Xiao

No one asked you to dress up in suit.
No one asked you to be punctual
No one asked you to research the company
No one asked you to bring a copy a resume.

Or
No one asked you to wipe after you ****

If it is a troll post that's fine but if you are serious, it is time to learn the basic manners of attending an interview
That's funny because I have a good high paying job yet I didn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview to get it. Didn't wear a suit either, I don't wear suits to interviews, just dress pants and dress shirt (no tie). BUt according to you I should be unemployed? How can you explain this abnormality? I'll tell you how... all these "rules" people are throwing in this topic, you must wear suit, you must bring resume, you must send thank you letter, you must blah blah blah, all these rules are only meant for desparate people who can't get good jobs based on merit. If you have all the skills and experience and are intelligent, you don't have to follow some silly rules and you will get the job, I am proof of that.

[aaaaaa]

Just throwing this out there...

Why don't interviewers send *me* a thank you note? Especially if they choose not to hire me. I got lots to do with my time, and they don't even thank me for taking the time to come in for an interview? I find in the whole "hiring game", that often neither side considers the other.

[Kohanz]

That's funny because I have a good high paying job yet I didn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview to get it. Didn't wear a suit either, I don't wear suits to interviews, just dress pants and dress shirt (no tie). BUt according to you I should be unemployed? How can you explain this abnormality? I'll tell you how... all these "rules" people are throwing in this topic, you must wear suit, you must bring resume, you must send thank you letter, you must blah blah blah, all these rules are only meant for desparate people who can't get good jobs based on merit. If you have all the skills and experience and are intelligent, you don't have to follow some silly rules and you will get the job, I am proof of that.

Actually, you're just making the mistake of assuming that all interviews and interviewers are the same, which is foolish. Deciding whether to wear or bring something to an interview is about deciding which is more likely to increase your choices (or not hurt your chances) of getting a job.

For example:
- You bring a hard-copy of your resume, but the interviewer doesn't need one or doesn't care = doesn't affect your chances of getting the job
- You DON'T bring a hard-copy of your resume, but the interviewer forgot to print one out and asks you for one = you look unprepared
- You do bring a hard-copy of your resume, the interviewer forgot to print one out and asks you for one = instant good impression

Another example:
- You are not told what to wear to the interview, so you wear something formal (e.g. shirt and tie, dress pants and shoes), but the interviewers are casually dressed = usually, doesn't make a bad impression
- You are not told what to wear to the interview, so you show up in shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt, but the interviewers are formally dressed = usually, you're making a bad impression


Unless you know the preferences of the interviewers up front (and 95% of the time you don't), you're just putting yourself at needless risk by making lazy decisions (not bringing your resume, dressing casually).

The reason you got your job is that you were just fortunate that your interviewer didn't care about those things. In reality, some interviewers do, whether you agree with them or not.

[BlackOps]

I went to at least 30 interviews, never brought extra copy of resume, only one for myself, all of them( both samll or big companies) had my resume printed already

[sacabeans]

When hiring I ask for a copy of the resume as a test, and because all those online resume submission tools bugger up your resume format.

Biggest pet peeve is spell check and grammer check your resume. My spelling sucks so if I notice a mistake I just stop reading and move on.

[Truemana]

When hiring I ask for a copy of the resume as a test, and because all those online resume submission tools bugger up your resume format.

Biggest pet peeve is spell check and grammer check your resume. My spelling sucks so if I notice a mistake I just stop reading and move on.

Lol as he misspells "grammar"...

[bhrm]

I have to disagree to OP about HR people. Where I work, HR people are worthless. All they seem to do is shuffle paper and delay the hiring process. They force all managers to add an extra layer of annoyance to the hiring process. I work in a large organization.

o rly.

Usually I find its the hiring manager.

Maybe all generalizations are all true.

[sedated_xtc]

That's funny because I have a good high paying job yet I didn't have to bring a paper copy of my resume to the interview to get it. Didn't wear a suit either, I don't wear suits to interviews, just dress pants and dress shirt (no tie). BUt according to you I should be unemployed? How can you explain this abnormality? I'll tell you how... all these "rules" people are throwing in this topic, you must wear suit, you must bring resume, you must send thank you letter, you must blah blah blah, all these rules are only meant for desparate people who can't get good jobs based on merit. If you have all the skills and experience and are intelligent, you don't have to follow some silly rules and you will get the job, I am proof of that.

Now mind you, I'm not an HR recruiter, but I have had the opportunity to sit on the other side of the table a few times. I don't ask for a copy of a resume, because yes, I usually print my own out. And I don't usually take off points from a candidate for not having a jacket, but again, the few that do come in with a copy of their resume/cover letter and a suit do get full impression points. There are times when a candidate comes in late, looking sloppy, and nothing else and they can be great candidates, but if there's someone with equal qualifications and came in on time, had a copy of their resume, and dressed properly, I'd probably lean towards that guy more.

My hiring manager is the more traditional old-school type, so he once mentioned "If someone comes in late for an interview, chances are, they'll come in late to work". The general idea being that how a person is presented at the interview, is a direct representation of how professional they may be in the workplace since the interview should be where a candidate is trying to be at their best.

But then again, every hiring manager is different. Some are more laxed, and others are more stringent in these things, never hurts to be prepared. I don't see that as a sign of desperation at all, if anything, a candidate that is willing to be more presentable and took the time to prepare for an interview demonstrates more dedication and professionalism than one that didn't.

I agree that it does seem a bit like a monkey game, but it's about these things that can tip the scales. Nowadays, when there are so many candidates for an opening, it's really about leaving an impression on the interviewer.


Just throwing this out there...

Why don't interviewers send *me* a thank you note? Especially if they choose not to hire me. I got lots to do with my time, and they don't even thank me for taking the time to come in for an interview? I find in the whole "hiring game", that often neither side considers the other.

Simply because they're not asking anything of you and it's more like you're the one pursuing them. As the interviewee, you're the one that wants the job and they're the one offering you their consideration and time which they probably would rather use to do something else as well.

In a sense, the hiring process is a competition, and as a candidate, you're competing for the position. And when they don't want to hire you, they usually do send an email template over.

[Piro21]

From the point of view of a guy who's never had trouble finding a decent job, and who's helped hire people at some of the companies I've worked for, the expectations of hiring managers relates a lot to what kind of work environment you'd expect. The basics of interviewing should be met; show up on time, well dressed, a copy of your resume with you, and ready to talk about yourself and show how you'd fit into the team, with maybe the extra of a targeted cover letter if you'd like. However, when flowery ***** like a Thank You letter is expected, or will seriously differentiate you from the pack, it always seems to be the type of office ruled by micromanaging middle-aged women. Do your best on an interview, but remember that you're interviewing the employer just as much as they're interviewing you.

[Mulder and Scully]

How important is GPA? Do you even look at it?

What advice would you give to someone who's looking for a job but has no relevant work experience (ex. university grad who spent summers working in McDonalds/factories)?

1.) GPA is meaningless outside of academia. Some career advisors will tell you that your co-op placement or internship will depend on your GPA, but that's not the case. You could have an amazingly high GPA and still do horribly in the interview.

2.) Contrary to popular opinion, working at McDonald's builds a lot of experience in customer service (e.g., politeness, tact, understanding wants), efficiency, managing pressure, timeliness and teamwork. I've hired people who've only had food industry experience and often they tend better understand the needs of the job because they understand what it's like to work hard under pressure. What a lot of new grads don't understand is that most employers aren't going to hire you for an office admin job if all your work experience is selling cell phones and your undergrad major was in History. It's not related to the job you're applying for.

[Elfer]

1.) GPA is meaningless outside of academia. Some career advisors will tell you that your co-op placement or internship will depend on your GPA, but that's not the case. You could have an amazingly high GPA and still do horribly in the interview.

I have had interviewers who were interested in my marks in specific courses, but that's only under very particular circumstances. I can't think of a time when your overall GPA would be legitimately important.


In a sense, the hiring process is a competition, and as a candidate, you're competing for the position. And when they don't want to hire you, they usually do send an email template over.

This is actually getting less and less common. I heard nothing at all back from my last five interviews. Personally I feel it's a bit disrespectful to candidates to not send notification of rejection. Obviously I don't expect notice just from a job application, but if I spend the time/money to travel to an interview and talk to actual people, it would be nice to get some sort of response back instead of being left hanging indefinitely.

[aaaaaa]

From the point of view of a guy who's never had trouble finding a decent job, and who's helped hire people at some of the companies I've worked for, the expectations of hiring managers relates a lot to what kind of work environment you'd expect. The basics of interviewing should be met; show up on time, well dressed, a copy of your resume with you, and ready to talk about yourself and show how you'd fit into the team, with maybe the extra of a targeted cover letter if you'd like. However, when flowery ***** like a Thank You letter is expected, or will seriously differentiate you from the pack, it always seems to be the type of office ruled by micromanaging middle-aged women. Do your best on an interview, but remember that you're interviewing the employer just as much as they're interviewing you.

agreed!

[navigator416]

When hiring I ask for a copy of the resume as a test, and because all those online resume submission tools bugger up your resume format.

Biggest pet peeve is spell check and grammer check your resume. My spelling sucks so if I notice a mistake I just stop reading and move on.

As a test for what? If I'm responsible enough to keep my printer supplies stocked? Or if my portfolio is just for show? I should ask you for my resume to see if you are courteous enough to print out the resume I've tailored and sent to you after I made my way down. I'd love to hear exactly what the test proves.

edit: you've looked over hundreds of resumes and chosen me to come in to play little games and meaningless tests? Half of these resume/interview rules are old and antiquated and only kept alive because recruiters need excuses to act like they are doing their jobs.

[Truemana]

As a test for what? If I'm responsible enough to keep my printer supplies stocked? Or if my portfolio is just for show? I should ask you for my resume to see if you are courteous enough to print out the resume I've tailored and sent to you after I made my way down. I'd love to hear exactly what the test proves.

edit: you've looked over hundreds of resumes and chosen me to come in to play little games and meaningless tests? Half of these resume/interview rules are old and antiquated and only kept alive because recruiters need excuses to act like they are doing their jobs.

There's so many other "meaningless" tests in society that you choose to abide by, but somehow you see printing out a resume in an interview as completely unnecessary and an excessive expectation.

[uncle_ned]

Good thread. I hire in the government. Here's what I say:

1. OP said treat HR kindly. I'd add "treat the admin assistant who sets up your interview slot kindly." We'll hear about it several times if you don't, particularly right before the candidate shows up. The admins know when that is because they set it up. And then you've got to work extra hard to dispel that first judgement. We're human, too, and can be swayed by our colleague's judgments.

2. Large external competition: don't send a thank you note. By the time the hiring board gets it, your fate is already decided (+ or -), and we've moved on in the process. Big competitions are all about bureaucracy and move slow. A thank you note gets lost. Small, internal competition: fire a quick email off afterwards. Chances are you'll run into the members of the board in a lot of different circumstances and it can't hurt to make a gesture.

3. No need to bring a resume or portfolio, unless specifically asked to do so. We have no flexibility in what we can ask of a candidate in an interview (all set up beforehand) and being shown a portfolio is awkward if we don't need to see it.

4. Being nervous and fumbling for words in the first few minutes will not be held against you. It's natural. Don't sweat it. Being nervous the entire interview will eliminate you from the competition.

5. Even if the interview questions are home runs for you, don't be arrogant or cocky. Confident, yes. Once had a guy who sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and pontificated. He got full marks for knowledge but we killed him on personal suitability. Who wants to work with someone like that? We don't. You spend 37.5 + hours a week with people and you don't want to have that compromised by having a bunch of arrogant or socially inept people around (although it happens way too much already).

[Sum_guy]

This is actually getting less and less common. I heard nothing at all back from my last five interviews. Personally I feel it's a bit disrespectful to candidates to not send notification of rejection. Obviously I don't expect notice just from a job application, but if I spend the time/money to travel to an interview and talk to actual people, it would be nice to get some sort of response back instead of being left hanging indefinitely.

That's a fair comment and I'd agree with you. I would hope that every candidate that we'd interview gets a courtesy email/phone call either way.

Part of the reason I suggest that candidates have a copy of their resume handy is that sometimes the copy we get from the system is quite buggered up format-wise. The other reason is that sometimes the interviewer hasn't had a chance to print out the resume. I had one candidate who was really good, good enough that the HR recruiter called me up and asked if I could do a second interview right now. Since the candidate had driven in from Kingston they were ok with the last minute interview but I was left without a copy of their resume to mark up and add comments to.

I bring this up as I actually hired the guy - they were a really good candidate and they handled the pressure of an impromptu interview really well.

There are no hard and fast rules, just guidelines..

[Elfer]

Yeah, I try to make the documents as redundant as possible - upload a PDF if I can, and have a few hard copies. I could argue that I shouldn't have to bring in a hard copy because if companies are soliciting electronic copies they should have a system capable of reading them, but on the other hand, I'd rather just take the extra steps and avoid any forseeable headaches.

[kitty]

I've been on both sides of the interview table, and this is one of the most useful threads for interviewing. Kudos to everyone who has contributed.

EDIT: Oops, didn't realize this was a year-old thread... still there's good advice here :)