The fastest I decided not to hire someone was: Just as soon as the candidate was entering the elevator (“lift” as we call it)!
This happened just a few months ago. I was on a hiring boars for a department in my office — where the job would be mostly liaison and reporting. I worked in selecting the final list of resumes, so I had a good idea about the candidates coming in.
There was one candidate, let's call him Jim, who had done his bachelors abroad. Jim came in well recommended. I was not too sure though if he would stick with us long enough, if he got the chance.
On the day of interview, I finished lunch at the ground floor, and was standing in line to get up to my office on the 5th floor. Another colleague and I were standing on either sides of the elevator, waiting for the ones inside to get out, before we get in. However, as soon as it emptied, right from behind me — this well dressed guy wearing a nonchalant face overtook both me and my colleague, to get in the elevator first. I was staring at his face, I recognized him from the photo on the resume — “Not even an ”excuse me?””
I knew he may have been a genius, but this lack of sense about general etiquette would not be good for someone in liaison role. As expected, in the interview, Jim had a hard time listening to the questions, did not wait to really understand us, before launching on to his answers. None in the interview board liked him. And I think to me he was pretty much done as soon as he entered that elevator.
On the day of interview, I finished lunch at the ground floor, and was standing in line to get up to my office on the 5th floor. Another colleague and I were standing on either sides of the elevator, waiting for the ones inside to get out, before we get in. However, as soon as it emptied, right from behind me — this well dressed guy wearing a nonchalant face overtook both me and my colleague, to get in the elevator first. I was staring at his face, I recognized him from the photo on the resume — “Not even an ”excuse me?””
I knew he may have been a genius, but this lack of sense about general etiquette would not be good for someone in liaison role. As expected, in the interview, Jim had a hard time listening to the questions, did not wait to really understand us, before launching on to his answers. None in the interview board liked him. And I think to me he was pretty much done as soon as he entered that elevator.
*photo from unsplash and quora.