This is a site that 50+ should feel comfortable enough that we are not spied on. We voluntarily gave up most of our individual freedoms to keep America safe. Thanks for the offer, though. It's so sweet of you. No one expects the truth from any public news source, anyways. If the newspaper wants to know the truth, they can write it on the same back page and the same small print that they do the retractions.
Thank you littleturtle. I understand your point. The WSJ is just trying to offer people advice in order to avoid making mistakes during an interview. The columnist frequently writes about "best practices" that have helped many readers be successful landing future employment.
If anyone wants to contribute to the article, they do have the right to remain anonymous as well.
Thank you again and Happy Holidays!
Michele
Ms. O'Connor: I read your post with much interest. However, I would appreciate some clarification as to just what the WSJ is asking.
Are they wanting input about what an applicant-unilaterally-i.e.voluntarily- may have said? OR something they may have said as a response to a question asked by the potential employer?
With minimal exception, I would think that persons over 50 would know it would be "employment suicide" to blurt out comments relative to their age (i.e. # of grandchildren; ages of their children; the year they received their college degree-if more than 15 years ago: a job history that includes far too many years etc...).
But knowing whether an applicant answered "correctly" (a very subjective word in this case) a question posed by a potential employer is another matter all together. Case in point: I am an Accounts Receivable professional. I interviewed for a related position recently. I felt everything was going quite well. The accounting manager who interviewed me was responding positively; commented that my qualifications were what they were looking for etc...THEN I was asked to speak with their sales manager-who also doubled as the manager of that specific location. He had three questions. The first two were customer service related and-given the description of the position-I understood why he asked them. However, then he asked his third question. It was-and I quote: "Name two people-alive or dead-whom you would most like to meet and why". How would anyone know if their answer was right or wrong?
Second case in point: Same potential employer, second interview, at their corporate headquarters: I meet first with the Controller. Nice person, personable, professional; asked questions all relative to the position. Then I interview with the CFO!!! His first question: (again I quote): "What would you RATHER (emphasis on this word) be doing?" Not knowing just how to answer this he went on to add: " For example, I (meaning him, the CFO) would much rather be a professional baseball player."
Apparently I'd anwered the sales manager appropriately for I got the 2nd interview. I guess I didn't answer the CFO right though when I told him I'd rather be independently wealthy. It may not have been the right answer. But neither was his question!
Third case in point: I sent a resume to a recruiter. When they called me they said my qualifications "fit like a glove" to the job description and asked my permission to forward it. Of course, I told them. Two days later the recruiter calls me back and this is what he tells me: "Reggie, I don't know quite how to say this for I have never run into this response in my career. But this employer wanted me to be sure to tell you that hey found absolutely nothing wrong with your qualifications and that you were, indeed, a perfect match (their words) for the position. HOWEVER, they have a "bad taste" in their mouth for your last employer and they are not even considering ANYONE who had worked there". How do you respond to THAT?
My point is: perhaps the WSJ whould be asking applicants: "What are some of the most "off the wall" non job related questions asked of you by (some) people who know absolutely zero about interviewing?"
To Reggie002
I wrote a blog about this very thing - 50 Plus/Labor Market bout the young educated knowing nonething about how to appreciate our exp and knowledge.
Rog
Hi Reggie,
Thanks for your response. The WSJ wrote an article about off the wall questions earlier this year. This current article is about candidates that said or did something which they feel may have jeopardized the interview. For example, using your hands to an extreme when talking and knocking something over in the process. This is very common.
If you have a specific example from the past 2 years please let me know.
Thank you and Happy Holidays,
Michele
