Social studies, butterfly
Social networks, interview
Socially acceptable, awkward
So I'm minding my own business interviewing for a job when lo and behold I have to engage in a "social interview." I had no idea what I was getting into. It was interesting to say the least. Mind you it was two days in a row of interviews at 54 miles round trip.
I walk into their human resources office along with several other candidates for other positions. They asked for my resume and I provided cheerfully. They wanted me to fill out a paper application so I asked for it so I could multitask while we did the social interview. Initially I was told no. Minutes later, someone else gave it to me and asked for another copy of my resume. Hmmm.
Nevertheless, all of us felt a little awkward but it was very clear who possessed social graces and who didn't.
We sat on either side of tables that formed a u-shape. They instructed us to introduce each other but with a twist. What they did was lead by example. Each of the six HR peeps introduced themselves by name, title/role and revealed a personal fact about themselves. One said they were getting married next month. Another said they were expecting their first child in two weeks. They all smiled and were most enthusiastic. My first thought was why do I want/need to reveal anything personal to people I never have met before? Awkward???
So they started at my table and I was the third person to introduce myself. "Hello! My name is Emiliana Martin, I'm a candidate for a PR Manager position and I'm the PTA president at my son's middle school." I didn't say it to impress anyone but the woman wearing a suit sitting next to me blurts out, "Impressive." Great. Now I've just come across as someone trying to intimidate others with my station/position. Swell. Most revealed something personal. A few didn't.
They split us up into two groups for group dynamic exercises. The first thing we were instructed to do was to come up with three key things that make a team great. They split their team into groups of three and observed our group dynamic. Here's the weird part: When we were done they told us that they would give us a critique and we were to say "Thank you" afterward. The person's tone in providing us these instructions gave me pause. It felt dictatorial as if to say, "and you will like the critique so much you'll say thank you." Weird.
So they started on the opposite side of the room and first asked if they could give feedback. What were we supposed to say, "Oh hell no!" That would have been suicide. The feedback was interesting, to say the least. I felt the critique should not have public. That was inappropriate. Feedback, particularly criticism, should be done in private, not in front of peers. I don't care how constructive it is. Yet another red flag.
I finally got my critique. It was positive until she said I interrupted someone. Before I had a chance to process and cheerfully say thank you, she moved onto the next person. Red flag number three.
They ended the social interview. I was asked to complete the application. I wasn't ready with my references because I didn't know I had to fill out an application beforehand. I turned in the application and they asked for yet another resume. I asked for an e-mail address to send the references. They said they would be in touch for an HR interview within two weeks. I was looking forward to that because I checked a box that said they were not allowed to contact my last employer for a reference. I was never given the chance to explain why.
Today I got the rejection letter. Here's what one person did with their rejection letter that made me giggle. I hope you do too!
Moral to the story: There's something better elsewhere.
