by Beth | Apr 24, 2024 | Good Management
Several years ago, I was in Boulder with a client, interviewing for a Salesperson. This was a software technology company that had been in business for a while. A man came in for an interview with us, and he had some really unique experience to bring to the table. I was excited to interview him!
Before we got started, he asked me if I needed references, and I said that yes I did. He had a FedEx envelope with him that was sealed and it had a pull tab on it. Instead of pulling the tab, this candidate pulled out a knife, pushed a button and the blade popped out. He sliced the envelope open, put the knife on the table, pulled out the reference sheet, and handed it to me. He picked up the knife, pushed the button again, the blade disappeared, and he put the knife back into his pocket.
You could have heard a pin drop.
The man starts describing the references on his sheet. No one moved. I guided him through a few questions and then informed him that he would have answers by Friday. He seemingly was never aware of how his actions affected everyone in the room. He thanked me profusely, saying that you never hear from companies when you apply for a job. I walked him to the door, shook his hand and he left. I locked the door behind him. After that, I eventually quit doing first interviews in person. It just felt like too much of a risk.
I am writing this on Saturday April 20th. It is the 25th anniversary of Columbine and I am reminded of how vulnerable we really are in our daily lives. We think that it can never happen to us, but it can.
Please don’t let another day go by that you don’t review your security policies for safety in your office. None of us want to think about the unthinkable, and yet, thinking about the unthinkable can save lives.
POWER THOUGHT: Think through the unthinkable and put a safety policy in place.
by Beth | Apr 9, 2024 | Firing Employees
A friend of mine owns his own company, and about a year ago, he hired a not-so-great admin. He spent months working with her, training her, teaching her. She continually made mistakes. He lost money with his schedule not being full and then, billing became an issue. One day, he walked up to the front desk, and she was reading a book on her phone, with several things unfinished. Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back: he asked her to send an email. She said she did. He didn’t get it. She said it must not have gone through. He said no problem, just forward it to me. She of course had never sent it.
He greeted her at the door with her final check one morning, and she wasn’t even surprised.
He looked at me and said, “I’m an idiot. I should have fired her 4 months ago.”
First of all, he is not an idiot. He is a kind, generous, dedicated human being and a fantastic business owner. I really appreciate the way that he tried everything in his power to make it work.
And.
As the great Chris Rock says: “Relationships aren’t tough. They are tough when only one person is working on it. Two people can move a couch real easy. One person can’t move it at all.”
I am very pleased to report that my friend has a new admin who started last week, and 2 days in, my friend said this: “I really am a good trainer and teacher. I had forgotten that about myself.”
POWER THOUGHT: When your couch has to be moved, and it isn’t moving, it is time to move on.
by Beth | Mar 27, 2024 | Employee Hiring
Ah, the broken hiring heart…
A few weeks back, a client of mine professed their undying love for a candidate, and another person on the interview team suggested that they might be setting themselves up for a broken hiring heart.
You know the one… that candidate that you get so excited about! They use all the right terms. They say your name in the interview. They did their research and asked great questions. You can’t WAIT to send them an offer letter!
Then, they ghost you. They turn you down. They do something egregious in the process. You try to call them…to convince them to work for you, but it NEVER works out.
You have a broken hiring heart, and it really is disheartening when this happens.
Here is how to heal that tender heart of yours:
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Take the next day off from interviewing. You really do need a day to be sad that this fleeting relationship didn’t work out. Be disappointed and feel the feels.
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Remind yourself of why you do what you do. Get re-connected to your purpose.
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Do some self-care: work out, drink water, walk outside, and sleep. You really will feel better in the morning.
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Go back to your ad. Does it still say what you need it to say?
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Finally, have heart: If they didn’t want to work with you now, they really won’t later when the going gets tough. You dodged a bullet.
Now, get out there and find “the one” that makes your heart sing! You got this!
POWER THOUGHT: Your heart was broken by a heartless candidate. It happens. Take heart! The “One” is on their way to you!
***Shout out to Jodie Reed for the idea!
by Beth | Mar 13, 2024 | Employee Hiring
A few weeks ago, I was meeting with my Indeed team and my A-list Interviews team over an ad that I had posted. It wasn’t getting much traction. And if you know me at all, you know that I review traction on ads as closely as my financial advisor looks at stock reports.
It can make or break my whole day.
Anyhoo, this particular ad was giving me heartburn, until one of my people said, “We need to figure out the Lateral Wiggle.”
Huh?
“Lateral wiggle.” In other words, what are the surrounding skill sets that can substitute for the ones you want? For example, Google sheets and Excel. Not quite the same but close. For my lenders, I have a bank that just hired a lender with no banking experience, but she came from many years with Enterprise. Lateral wiggle. For my Customer Service Reps, any experience with Starbucks, Chipotle, or Chick fil-A. They have the best customer service training programs that I have ever seen.
Approximately 50% of information on a resume is either exaggerated or an outright lie, so resumes are already suspect at best. When you are struggling to find the right fit, broaden your scope with lateral wiggle and a solid interview process, and wiggle your way into an amazing new employee!
POWER THOUGHT: Can’t find your great fit? Maybe it is time to wiggle.
by Beth | Feb 28, 2024 | Selecting Good Candidates
I am working with a client who is seeking a high-level executive. We received an application from a woman who wasn’t qualified for this particular position, but she was highly qualified for another opportunity within the company. The problem was that the salary for the position she qualified for was about 30k less. I called her to discuss the new opportunity, and I very clearly pointed out the difference in annual salary. She was in!
She interviewed with us 4 different times: the phone, 2 via zoom, and 1 in-person. She completed 3 different assignments, and she nailed the interviews. My client was very excited and made her an offer at the TOP of the range that we posted for that lower position.
5 days later, she requested 35k more than the offer.
In other words, she requested the salary from the original job that she applied for but ultimately wasn’t qualified.
My client called me to discuss this, because he had to cut her loose. Paying her that much would have thrown off the comp structure for his whole organization. But did we miss something?
Yes, we did. She never applied for the position that we considered her for. However, I still believe the risk in redirecting her was worth the potential reward. Why?
Because my client did something that REALLY good CEO’s do: he tried to take the opportunity and turn it into a win. He saw a highly talented person and tried to put her in a place that she ultimately didn’t want to be. It took us a while to figure this out.
I am proud of my client for taking a chance. Who knows? It could have worked out. And, when an applicant applies for a position and you offer them another one, make sure that the salaries are comparable. You will have a much better chance of success.
POWER THOUGHT: Pay attention to the position for which the applicant is applying. Maybe your round peg ends up being square after all.
