HRBlunders.com » applicant

Applicant stabbed, but goes to interview before hospital

Fred Hosier — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:00:17 +0000

As an HR pro, what impresses you about applicants at interviews? Maybe it’s their professional demeanor, resume or responses to questions.

What if an applicant showed up for a job interview instead of going to the hospital?

That’s what an unidentified 16-year-old Toronto student did.

He and another student were stabbed near a high school.

But the student made it to his co-op placement interview at a veterinary clinic, according to The Canadian Press.

When employees at the clinic noticed blood on the student’s leg, they called police.

Both students were taken to the hospital.

Veterinarian Kent Ackerman said, “He did really well on the interview, and we were very proud of him for sticking to the appointment.” At the same time, Ackerman said he was “shocked” the teen would delay going to the hospital for the interview.

Employer to applicant: We’ll hire you under this condition

Fred Hosier — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:06 +0000

Imagine this: A man, weighing 330 pounds is sitting across from your desk because he’s applied for a job. You tell him, “We’ll hire you if you lose weight.”

That’s what happened to Ulysses Milana. And he lost the weight and got the job.

Milana wanted to serve his country in the military. The Army and Navy took one look at him and said forget it.

But the Marines told him, if he really wanted to join, they’d work with him to lose weight.

Now, 11 months later, Milana is 140 pounds lighter, and he’s scheduled to leave soon for boot camp.

Marine recruiters worked with him, helping to develop a workout regimen.

Milana, a resident of Maine, told the Sun-Journal losing the weight wasn’t easy. He had to give up favorite foods like pizza and hot wings, but the most difficult part was doing without a beer after work.

“You see all your friends drinking beer, and you’re like, ‘Oh, man, I want one,’” he said.

But Milana was determined, and instead of having a beer after work, he would head for the gym or go for a run.

Googling applicants: Woman’s shared name shows problem

Fred Hosier — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:37 +0000

Does HR at your company Google job applicants?

If so, keep Lauren Bernat’s situation in mind. She’s currently job hunting.

The problem: She shares her name with someone who is on a popular Internet video that features a scantily clad woman.

Needless to say, Bernat is concerned about what HR managers will find if they decide to Google her name.

So if John Q. Public applies for a job at your company, how do you know you’re finding correct information about the applicant online and not someone else?

If you have any ideas about how HR managers can make sure they’re finding information online about an actual job applicant, let us know about it in the comment section below.

New form of self-promotion for job applicants

Fred Hosier — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:51 +0000

Would you hire this man?

The subject line “Experienced MIT Grad for Hire!” might get your attention.

But the phrase was on a sandwich board worn by 48-year-old Joshua Persky while he walked around midtown Manhattan.

Persky’s been out of work for six months and is desperate to find a job.

He chose an area of New York City with lots of commercial banks and investment houses. “That’s where the money is,” said Persky in a wire service story.

Persky says he’s handed out a lot of resumes and has some leads but no offers yet.

Two weeks ago he was forced to leave his Manhattan apartment and move in with a friend while his wife and two children have temporarily moved to Omaha, NE, to stay with family.

Let us know if you’d hire someone wearing a sign with his qualifications on a sandwich board.