Interview oversharing
Starburst® Moments in Sharing: Interview from StarburstChannel on Vimeo.
This video is not exactly the typical interview experience, but I've had my fair share of finishing a conversation and saying to myself - "did that really just happen?"
Oversharing extends into areas outside of the actual interview. Our blogs, social network profiles and Twitter comments blur the line between personal and professional life and what is considered appropriate to share in a public forum is continuing to change.
But some details are not for sharing, no matter how casual or comfortable the relationship - especially in a job search.
Recently, I've been on the receiving end of these interview overshares and I'm beginning to wonder if it is just me.
Here's a story for starters:
Miss Curious was very curious indeed. She liked asking questions - questions that probed into the personal lives of the office staff. While she was waiting for me to start the interview, she began to chat up my colleague and no more than 30 seconds into the conversation she asks, "So, do you have a boyfriend? What's he like?" The recruiter, caught off-guard, answered her quickly and change the subject.
Miss Curious insisted and told the office the entire story of how she met her boyfriend and then detailed the difficulties of her intercultural relationship. She was having a hard time adjusting to living in a new country and sharing a home. Before the interview even started, the office knew about this woman's uncertain and unstable relationship.
And this is just one of the tamer stories ...
It wouldn't be fair to say this only happens on the candidate side. Hiring authorities are guilty of TMI syndrome too like the time... well I'll save that one.
Stories anyone? I'd love to hear your most memorable.
Date: December 10th, 2008 / Author: Lindsay
Posted in Recruiting / Tags: Interview Advice, Oversharing
4 Comments - Add yours!
David Moye (December 10th, 2008)
I agree with Margie about not doing this during a job interview, but, in most of the places I’ve worked, the intern has a duty to share the most intimate details of their life because many of the harried employees are living vicariously through them.
Adam Singer (December 14th, 2008)
It is always amazing to me when I hear stories like that – you’d think that by the time someone reaches the point in life they are applying for jobs they’d have enough sense to know how to handle themselves in that situation.
Chucky Pita (December 16th, 2008)
That was pretty interesting. I’ve been in 2 interviews over the past week and rather than talk about the job at hand – the interviewer went into 10 minute speeches about their “glory days” of football. Kind of funny.
Nice blog – thanks for the information.
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This blog is to share my recruiting experiences and discuss thoughts on the job market, PR industry and technology.
Alison Kenney is an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience.
Margie Newman (December 10th, 2008)
Sing it, sister! So glad you are preaching this message.
I remember how shocked I was a few years ago when an intern candidate said this to me as a response to the question “How was your weekend?”
Candidate: “Oh! hahahahahahah, dude, we got so (bleeping) trashed and I’m really hungover today, which is why I’m late. I got really sick this morning and had to change clothes – it was totally worth it though.”
Me: “Just a tip, there are some details you shouldn’t share with strangers during a job interview.”
Candidate: “Oh, sorry. You asked.”
(sigh) Bless’em. He didn’t get the job.