As I was reading my feed over the weekend I came across this update which initially made me laugh, then I started thinking about it on a deeper level.
I recently read an excellent commentary by Brian Formato where he outlined a similar experience to this hiring manager from a more positive point of view. He observed someone in his working environment whose role was different than the type of position Mr. Formato was recruiting for…or was it?
He had the skill to see beyond the immediate and recognize this person for the potential talent he would bring to the organization. He observed his work ethic, customer service skills, and attitude, connecting the dots between what this candidate was naturally displaying and how these skills would translate into being a successful contributor for his organization (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/talent-strikes-different-kind-strike-bowling-alley-formato-msod?trk=prof-post).
Viewing candidates away from the contrived interview environment is a rare opportunity. While the situation shared on this update did not convey the same positive reaction, there are some points worth considering. Without knowing the position this hiring manager was trying to fill, what could be gleaned from this observation in the parking lot?
Was this candidate aggressive? Yes. Was he competitive? Definitely.
These traits might have been viewed as a positive in an interview setting if the open position called for an ace salesperson tasked with hitting numbers every month or an account manager pursuing business development. One might also wonder if this candidate displayed such passion for securing a parking space, what would the level of engagement be when the stakes are higher? How would he handle interactions with his colleagues or potential clients?
The Harvard Business Review asserts that as much as 80% of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions. This hiring manager felt strongly enough about this interaction to post on social media before the interview started and his headline clearly spoke his opinion.
Even if this candidate went to the interview with an A game, that brief encounter colored the hiring manager’s perception. He was already in interview mode, evaluating the candidate in less than the one and a half minutes it takes for any interviewer to form an initial assessment.
Put yourself in the shoes of this hiring manager.
Would you be able to set this encounter aside during the interview?
Would you modify your planned line of questioning based on this initial observation?
Would you trust this person to represent your organization, or would the interview be a formality after the parking lot exchange?
There is also the topic of regional culture to consider. Even in areas of the country where outward expression is more common, there is never room for behavior that could be perceived as disrespectful or rude in this setting. Unfortunately this candidate gave no thought to the fact that his interview began when he pulled into the parking lot and what may have seemed an innocuous interaction put him in reverse.