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Applicant from Hell
Saturday, July 4, 2009
About 4 weeks ago we had this one job applicant which I thought could have been the worst I’ve ever seen and the worst you’ll ever know, an applicant from hell.
Let’s call him PN. PN could have broken all the basic rules, etiquettes and guidelines on applying for a job. You would wonder if he is really looking for a job, testing the waters or just out there for other reasons only him could have known.
One of my boss’ visits to Doha, sometime last month, with him was curriculum vitae (CV) of PN. PN was applying as a Contract Administrator for one of our projects in Saudi Arabia. My boss is to interview PN during his visit here in Doha.
Two days before the planned interview, my boss has been trying to contact PN using his contact numbers provided in PN’s CV. Unfortunately, my boss was unable to contact him and so he called the other number provided from the CV. He spoke to PN’s mother-in-law and to PN’s wife.
Fast-forward to the day of the interview.
PN was scheduled for an interview at 4PM on that day. The very first opportunity you’ll make a good impression to your prospective employer is you punctuality. Unfortunately, PN must have been absent or sleeping in his class when punctuality was taught. PN called my boss at 4:30PM, half hour late from his scheduled interview.
To make things worst, PN was asking direction to my boss how to get to our office. As my boss is having a discussion, he referred PN to our secretary to guide him and give him directions. Taking the situation on a lighter note, my boss jokingly commented, “This is a Filipino, they always get lost”.
At last, PN reached our office at about 5:15PM. Since my boss was already occupied according to his plans, PN was asked to wait for a while as we are wrapping up our discussions. As he is waiting to be called, instead of asking the secretary of some general information about our company, PN is more interested how many Filipinas are working with the company or any Filipinas also working in our Head Office in Riyadh.
It seems that PN also forgot to bring with him a copy of his CV, as he was asking the secretary if she has internet access and asking favor if she could download and print his CV.
As we finished our discussion, my boss asked me and my colleague to browse through PN’s CV for 5 minutes, he instructed us to conduct the interview. As I was browsing through his CV, I was surprised that he is a lawyer, a bar passer back in the Philippines. I thought to myself how a professional like him could have failed to be punctual in his interview.
I could have forgiven him for such one-time lapse on his part, but as we proceeded with the interview, I couldn’t see why he is here in the first place. We asked him to guide us through about him previous works, his job responsibilities and his experience relevant to the position he is applying for.
I can honest tell you, he was unable to elaborate convincingly what were his job responsibilities. He is like a “puto-kutsinta” salesman trying to sell a car. He was trying hard, the more he talked, the more it becomes clear to me that he did not prepare his own CV or he is not what he claims to be.
At the middle of the interview, his phone rang. Without excusing himself, he answered his call and the 3 of us we left looking at each other while PN talked to someone at the other end. Being his countryman, I felt very ashamed and wish I wasn’t there in that room.
As we continue interviewing PN, my boss must have heard and seen enough, he asked PN what he is really applying for. Surprisingly, he is not also sure but his CV indicates that he is applying for a Contract Administrator position. My boss asked if we have other positions, what would he apply for. Again, PN is not sure what to answer.
Finally, as a courtesy, PN was asked to reconfirm his contact details just incase he will be called for further discussion. My boss casually asked if his wife knew his number here in Qatar and PN answered affirmatively.
When PN has left, my boss gave me his notes on PN’s CV and asked to send it to Head Office. There was a note which reads, “He is a liar, I called the wife this morning and she doesn’t know his number, she hasn’t even spoken to him for more than a year, she didn’t even know he is in Qatar:”
I can swear to my neighbor’s grave, PN was the worst candidate I’ve ever met. He is an applicant from hell.
Let’s call him PN. PN could have broken all the basic rules, etiquettes and guidelines on applying for a job. You would wonder if he is really looking for a job, testing the waters or just out there for other reasons only him could have known.
One of my boss’ visits to Doha, sometime last month, with him was curriculum vitae (CV) of PN. PN was applying as a Contract Administrator for one of our projects in Saudi Arabia. My boss is to interview PN during his visit here in Doha.
Two days before the planned interview, my boss has been trying to contact PN using his contact numbers provided in PN’s CV. Unfortunately, my boss was unable to contact him and so he called the other number provided from the CV. He spoke to PN’s mother-in-law and to PN’s wife.
Fast-forward to the day of the interview.
PN was scheduled for an interview at 4PM on that day. The very first opportunity you’ll make a good impression to your prospective employer is you punctuality. Unfortunately, PN must have been absent or sleeping in his class when punctuality was taught. PN called my boss at 4:30PM, half hour late from his scheduled interview.
To make things worst, PN was asking direction to my boss how to get to our office. As my boss is having a discussion, he referred PN to our secretary to guide him and give him directions. Taking the situation on a lighter note, my boss jokingly commented, “This is a Filipino, they always get lost”.
At last, PN reached our office at about 5:15PM. Since my boss was already occupied according to his plans, PN was asked to wait for a while as we are wrapping up our discussions. As he is waiting to be called, instead of asking the secretary of some general information about our company, PN is more interested how many Filipinas are working with the company or any Filipinas also working in our Head Office in Riyadh.
It seems that PN also forgot to bring with him a copy of his CV, as he was asking the secretary if she has internet access and asking favor if she could download and print his CV.
As we finished our discussion, my boss asked me and my colleague to browse through PN’s CV for 5 minutes, he instructed us to conduct the interview. As I was browsing through his CV, I was surprised that he is a lawyer, a bar passer back in the Philippines. I thought to myself how a professional like him could have failed to be punctual in his interview.
I could have forgiven him for such one-time lapse on his part, but as we proceeded with the interview, I couldn’t see why he is here in the first place. We asked him to guide us through about him previous works, his job responsibilities and his experience relevant to the position he is applying for.
I can honest tell you, he was unable to elaborate convincingly what were his job responsibilities. He is like a “puto-kutsinta” salesman trying to sell a car. He was trying hard, the more he talked, the more it becomes clear to me that he did not prepare his own CV or he is not what he claims to be.
At the middle of the interview, his phone rang. Without excusing himself, he answered his call and the 3 of us we left looking at each other while PN talked to someone at the other end. Being his countryman, I felt very ashamed and wish I wasn’t there in that room.
As we continue interviewing PN, my boss must have heard and seen enough, he asked PN what he is really applying for. Surprisingly, he is not also sure but his CV indicates that he is applying for a Contract Administrator position. My boss asked if we have other positions, what would he apply for. Again, PN is not sure what to answer.
Finally, as a courtesy, PN was asked to reconfirm his contact details just incase he will be called for further discussion. My boss casually asked if his wife knew his number here in Qatar and PN answered affirmatively.
When PN has left, my boss gave me his notes on PN’s CV and asked to send it to Head Office. There was a note which reads, “He is a liar, I called the wife this morning and she doesn’t know his number, she hasn’t even spoken to him for more than a year, she didn’t even know he is in Qatar:”
I can swear to my neighbor’s grave, PN was the worst candidate I’ve ever met. He is an applicant from hell.
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