» Job Interviews

creative applicant
I once interviewed a very proper looking young lad for a customer service position. Reading his resume as I interviewed, I asked him about his “Part Time Ticket Sales, Self Employed” job. He told me that he bought tickets in batches, thereby bringing the price down, and then sold them at a profit. He described his marketing strategies, his focus on the customer, and his attention to detail with the accounting. Very industrious, I thought. There was a gap in employment of 4 years, which he explained he had spent getting his education. This was going very well, I was excited.

As I got to the bottom of the resume, I saw a BA from a California State school for those 4 years, but I had never heard of it. I wrapped up the interview, and asked him to wait in the lobby for a few moments. I called information and got the number – turns out the school is the state prison system (apparently you can earn degrees while there). I asked him back to my office, and pointed out to him that he had listed a prison as his school.

He nodded, and just looked back across my desk at me. I asked, “Were you imprisoned for something?”

He nodded. A little light bulb went off in the back of my very dense head as I realized that he was using the term ‘ticket’ very liberally. Trip Ticket. Drugs. Being an overly blunt recruiter type, I looked him right in the eye and asked, “Were you selling drugs?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“OK then. I think that was everything I needed.”

“OK.” And with that, he left. A part of me admires his strategy – he gave it a good try.
(Tue 25th Jan 2005, 17:30, More)