Do Unto Others

     An important lesson to learn is to treat people no matter what with respect and dignity. I remember many years ago when I was being interviewed for a sales position and the interviewer arrived 20 minutes late, sat down with his coffee, looked at me for a millisecond and said "I don't have much time. What can you do for my division?" I knew right then and there that I didn't want to work for this person but I went through the interview process which consisted of him asking me questions that were dull and uninspiring with little energy or enthusiasm in his delivery. The interview ended 15 minutes later with the interviewer cutting it short and abruptly looking at his watch and saying "well, I have to go". No thank you, no information on when or if I will hear from him again and no eye contact or hand-shake as he left the interview room. Strangely enough, I was offered a second interview but declined.

     Three years later I was sitting on an interview panel when whom comes walking into the interview room, but this same person! He was now on the other side of the interview. Seeing him made me have a flood of distasteful memories of how rude and disrespectful he was to me but I also remembered what it was like sitting across that table as the one being interviewed and how difficult that can be. I am proud to say that I (and the other members of the panel) took him through the interview process always showing the upmost respect and ensuring he had a dignified and worthwhile experience. Interestingly, he did remember me as he shuffled nervously and his face flushed a little bit when he looked my way. But that was not what was important to me. What was important was that I was able to model the qualities that every interviewer (and person in general) should exhibit and hopefully this rubbed off on him to some degree. I smiled at him, I listened intently to what he was saying, I engaged in meaningful conversation with him and I responded to each of his questions in detail and informatively. When I and the others did so, I actually saw the man behind the "self-imposed mask" and he could be humorous, quick-witted, interesting, engaging and intelligent. Just goes to show what can happen when we put people at ease. Memo to interviewers........please do this! If you want to experience the best of your candidates don't intimidate them, don't demean them, don't dismiss them and don't overpower them! Instead, simply create an environment where they can feel fully comfortable to share who they truly are with you and you can share with them what your organization is truly like!

     When this man left the interview he seemed a bit shaken. He had actually done well but I could tell that he was surprised that I had treated him so well. He did not get the job as another candidate had more experience working in that particular role but it was an interesting experience for me. Sometimes what goes around, comes around and I could have responded differently to that situation. If I had though, I would have been no better than what he put me through during his interview of me and besides, that is not who I am nor ever will be! Life to me, is not about getting payback from the perceived wrongs that others do unto us but it is about rising above those wrongs and keeping our dignity, integrity and character in all situations despite those wrongs! Maybe, just maybe, he came out of it a better person too!