Barry Maher tells the story of the young applicant who was getting through to his interview panel until it was time for him to ask questions (barrymaher.com). He seemed surprised that he was supposed to have any. “Then he furrowed his brow,” Maher says, “thought for a moment and came out with, ‘Cross-dressing isn’t a problem, is it?’ He sounded perfectly serious.”
Silence ensued. He noticed it, “tittered a bit and nervously added, ‘Just kidding, of course,’” Maher reports.
Not everyone on the panel interpreted the incident the same way. Maher believes the applicant truly meant to tell a joke but made two mistakes – in content and tone. Another person disagreed, taking the young man at his word. He also made a third mistake.
Apparently, no one had told him that humor, subject matter and timing must be appropriate and synchronized.
If the three don’t jibe, the effect won’t either. If cross-dressing were optional for the man, he might have waited until after he’d settled into his new workplace to take a reading.
Otherwise, he should have waited until after receiving the offer, which is the best time to bring up issues that might complicate a decision.
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