More Wine Please!

It’s been several years now, but I remember this like yesterday.

I had a speaking engagement for a business organization.? My wife joined me for the trip so we could extend our stay and enjoy a long weekend.? Arriving at the hotel in the late afternoon, we checked in and then made dinner plans.? We chose a well-known upscale restaurant.

When I reference upscale that means real white table clothes and high priced wine.? The server placed us at a table for two in what appeared to be a nice quiet area.? At the table next to us were two businessmen who appeared to be sharing a bottle of wine before ordering dinner.? They politely nodded to us as we were seated.

We ordered a bottle of wine and and placed our order for dinner.? As we sat there I could not avoid over-hearing the discussion at the next table.? It was not long when I realized the two businessmen were involved in an employment interview.? Not wanting to listen in, but drawn to the discussion do to its content, I found myself listening intently to the discussion.

I was appalled by the fact a formal interview was taking place in a restaurant.? From their comments, I ascertained that one of them was the COO of a large company and the other a candidate for a vice president post reporting to this person.?

I was shocked by the total ineptitude of the interviewer. First, all he did was ask closed ended questions. “Do you have the energy to put in the time our company demands of managers?” he asked the applicant. The applicant responded, “I sure do.” The interviewer then said, “That’s great. Then, I assume you are a do whatever it takes guy.” The applicant merely nodded.

This scenario played itself out. Several times I was tempted to hand the interviewer my business card and tell him I could help. My wife’s icy stare kept me in control.

Well, he hired the applicant while eating dessert. They had consumed three bottles of wine, but the applicant only drank two glasses, so I’m not sure what the interviewer would remember in the morning. However, he sure felt good about his decision while eating his three layer chocolate cake, with ice cream.

If you read my book, "A Game Plan for Hiring the Right People" available now on Amazon, you will know how to interview.