WorkWise BlogTip: The eyes have it

A company snagged a resume and called Kristin Brown to interview (terribleinterviews.blogspot.com). The interview was a cakewalk. She waited expectantly for a call to interview with the CEO.

Languishing in the waiting area, she learned that the CEO was “wrapping up a meeting” and would be there, pronto. Brown picked up a trade pub and feigned interest. The CEO no-showed.

Two weeks later, Brown encountered a repeat scenario. Then the CEO walked by, informing her of a critical deadline. They walked to his office. He typed and typed and typed. Finally, he launched the interview. She responded, with substance.

“You talk and then you look around,” the CEO commented, “and then you talk and then you look around some more. I don’t know what you’re looking at. My office is not that interesting.”

Excusing himself, the CEO picked up the telephone to make an unrelated call.

“Have I been going through life not looking people in the eye?” she asked silently, rhetorically. Had she become a freak?

The CEO was too busy to walk her out. Dismissing her to a man outside of his office, he turned around, starting to type again. In her third interview, Brown stared intensely at her interviewer. That didn’t work either.

Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2010 Passage Media.