Arrogant Job Seekers?

Question

I had conducted an interview of an overqualified person for a certain position vacant in my firm today. Apart from being so up himself (which i had to bear for a full 10 minutes during which he proceeded to tell me that he was quite financially rich and he was looking for a job that paid for his "beer" weekly however he was looking going to stick around for a little while but that little while will be the best time my company will ever have! because of his expertise!). I very kindly told him that honestly he was not the best suited person for that role and that he would never suit the culture of my organization from the background he came from and he got very offended and said some personal remarks to me and tore off his application form in front of me. I told him he was the one to approach us and just told him to bear the truth with a grain of salt and thanked him for his time. He left still verbally abusing me out the door.

I am not sure whether I handled this the right way...should I have just told him that I will get back to him later or was it right of me shake his arrogance up a bit?

Answer 1

I think you definitely did the right thing - I remember reading a list of "common interview mistakes" online last week, and there were some stories very similar to yours!

Maybe it would have avoided a big confrontation if you'd said you would call him back, but it shows you're not cowardly that you told him to his face - he definitely deserves that and much more in my opinion.

Answer 2

How could you blame yourself?

However full of himself this guy was, however rich he might be, however amazingly qualified he thought he was, he still came to you looking for something: a job.

He should realise that personality is what counts in an interview - and he should have acted, not falsely modest, but respectfully and politely and showing due respect to you, to the organisation and to the job itself.

He should realise that telling your interviewer that you don't really need the job is NOT the way to get it.

And then he should have been polite when you dismissed him. You could have put it off until a phone call later - but why waste your time and make him get his hopes up?

You did the right thing.

Answer 3

You know what you're doing and if you feel that you made the correct decision, it's okay. It is difficult to judge a person in an interview. You never know for 100% sure if the person is acting genuine. Most of the applicants try to look better than they actually are. It is your decision. Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, but since he is not entering the company, you will never know. So just close this case and go on. The fact that he couldn't bear his loss and lost his temper at that moment, tells a lot about an important weakness. Of course he is looking for someone to blame, and most people defend themselves with accusing or abusing another to hide their own flaws. Good thing you got rid of this guy. He'll find another job, don't worry about it.