Doobsie, how could you?

Doobsie is an Accounting graduate. She attended an interview in Johannesburg last week. Being an entry-level position, and that she is new to the interview scene, the recruiting consultant phoned her a day before to prepare her.

1. Research “this” and “that” about the company (not knowing what the recruiting employer’s business is can be suicidal.) 

2. You may dress “this” way or “that” way (some graduates wear mini-skirts and show cleavage).

3. Make sure you have notepad and backup pen (somebody once tried helplessly to make his ink-less pen to write during an interview.) Doobsie laughed heartily at this.

4. Ensure that you greet and introduce yourself at the gate and at the reception (some employers put unknown hurdles on your way in.) Doobsie was now serious, and only saying ‘Okay, okay,’ the whole time.
 

5. If you are going to have questions for the interviewer, limit them to 3 only. You cannot be firing a barrage of questions to interviewer, especially when the time is over. You don’t want the interviewer to kick your throat, and kick you out in a huff. 

6. Please make sure that you do not ask embarrassing or controversial questions (you can’t ask the manager(s) at Eskom, ‘Why are you subjecting the country to load-shedding?’)

[The next day]

Consultant dials Doobsie’s phone number. There is no reply. This is odd. The phone continued to ring later in the afternoon. Doobsie was not answering, despite having promised to phone as soon as she was done with the interview. 
‘Doobsie, you did not answer my call yesterday.’
‘I am so sorry; I did not have airtime to call back,’ says Doobsie.
‘It’s okay; so how did the interview go?’ 
‘It went well, actually,’ replied Doobsie.
‘That’s great; well done. I will phone you as soon as I have feedback from the company,’ said the Consultant before ending the conversation.

[Conversation with Employer]
Consultant is curious. ‘How did your interview with Doobsie go yesterday?’
‘Doobsie was okay… buuut, eish… she brought her two friends to the interview,’ said the unimpressed Employer.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Yes, I ended up interviewing all of them.’

By that time the Consultant’s jaw has dropped on the floor. He manages to pull it back up…
‘I am very sorry about that incident.’
‘It’s okay, [name of consultant,]’ Employer assures Consultant.
’Did you determine if any of them was suitable for appointment?’

‘Naah, I don’t think so hey. I understand that mistakes like those happen but my interviewing colleague is not impressed by this. Please send me the other CVs. Be aware that my time is now limited. I want the person to start in April.’