About 2004 or so I advertised for someone that was familiar with office procedures and was willing to learn CAD.?ÿ I was really needing someone in the office that could adequately handle phone duties and help me put together bids and billing.?ÿ The CAD was just something I threw in to see if I could pick up some help that might be interested in the business.?ÿ This was a non-gender specific position but I expected a female would have more finesse with the phone stuff.?ÿ
I read through a mountain of applications complete with typos and absolutely horrible composition.?ÿ Then I read a stellar resume from a young man that lived local.?ÿ He had actually worked for an engineering firm with which I was familiar.?ÿ I hustled him in for an interview.
After about ten minutes into the interview I noticed something odd about his replies to my questions.?ÿ I would ask him something and he would begin his reply with the phrase, "What I'm hearing you ask me is....".?ÿ?ÿThe rest of his reply would (almost verbatim) refer to a portion of his resume.?ÿ He would never "hear" what it was that I was asking.?ÿ It was almost impossible to get a straight answer out of him!
The kid was smart.?ÿ I really needed some sharp help, but his answers bugged me.?ÿ I called a buddy of mine he had listed on his application at his old employer.?ÿ I asked him if this kid was the real deal.?ÿ He paused for a second, chuckled a bit and then said, "What I'm hearing you ask me is...".?ÿ
My applicant had apparently been noted for saying that phrase at least 100 times a day at his previous job.
I had to let him know I was looking at some other people... ;)?ÿ?ÿ
Yeah, that's a big red flag right there. I don't mind personality quirks, and can tolerate a lot of weirdness from my coworkers. But I have worked with a few folks like that, and all were notable for both their lack of imagination/problem-solving skills and their dedication to avoiding responsibility...
To avoid upsetting people "HR" is a radio code used by Search & Rescue.
It means 'non-urgent medical assistance required', which is also another way of saying a body has been found. (HR == Human Remains)
And that's what I automatically think everytime I hear the term "HR'"
Good luck with your hiring...
