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I used to be one person of a 3-person panel that conducted interviews for the whole district at a company where I used to work. We interviewed more for sales than management, purely by numbers. One day they swapped out one of our 3 for another store manager who I didn't know. He gave a woman a pencil and said, "sell me this pencil". You'd think maybe it'd be an exercise in "selling anything, even if you think it's stupid" or something to that effect. No. He later said, very proud of himself, that the point of it was to "throw her off". He was an idiot. Messing with people in useful ways to test certain things is one thing... but just to be a dick?
He asked people stupid questions all day. One woman was working as a lifeguard at a public pool. He asked what aspects of her job would help her out if she were hired on. She said something to the effect of, "I work as a lifeguard. Unfortunately, pretty much none. I'm not even supposed to be social with anyone, so it's not really giving me any experience I can carry over." A good, simple, honest, and assertive answer. I liked it, despite the stupidity of the question. He didn't. He says, "can't think of anything? Maybe make something up?" Make something up?? She says something like, "there's really nothing to make up. It's a simple job with one purpose, sit and watch. If I could make it sound incredible, you'd think I'm an idiot or a liar for trying to make 'lifeguard' sound worthy of comparing to a real job, like sales."
He was not happy with her answer. I took out one of my business cards, handed it to her, and said "I'll call you later with the details of your hire and compensation. Welcome aboard." The third guy says, "what?!" all flustered, and my second panel member just started laughing at him. (only took 2-of-3 approval for a person to be hired, and I knew my other, regular, panel member would side with me without question if I made a definitive move like that).
The dumbass was steamed with me all day- he was a store manager, so technically above me in store things, but not on the hiring panel. On the hiring panel, I was the boss. lol
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