A Person I Wouldn’t Hire – Ever

Posted July 26th, 2007

The copier repairman griped about the copier, the copier company, the coworkers, the traffic, and any other subject. Since the copier was just outside my office, I heard all the complaints. I was one of the copier company’s customers, and had heard the repairman’s gripes several times. He was a naturally upset man.

As a manager, it seemed I was constantly hiring entry employees. While the copier repairman was fussing, I was receiving applications and interviewing candidates. One of the employees told the repairman we were hiring people.

You know what happened, don’t you? The repairman, with a pleasant voice, asked for an application. I looked at him, with probably what my wife tells me is a look that pierces to the soul. Then I asked him to sit down.

He told me all his qualifications, his work ethic, his interest in working with the pipeline company. After listening for a few minutes, I told him that I would never hire him.

He got angry, and I wasn’t surprised at his reaction. I asked him why I might say I would never hire him. He had no idea. I asked him what he had been doing while repairing the copier. He said he was having a bad day. I told him a day is what we make it.

He said he could do better. I agreed, and told him to do better as a copier repairman. I suggested that he remember someone is always observing our actions, forming an impression. I suggested he consider the Zen saying, “The way we do anything is the way we do everything.”

He said he was different away from the job. I reminded him he was interested in a job that required shift work with other people in all kinds of weather. It also required the safe handling of hazardous liquids. And I could not take a chance on someone who constantly griped about his present job.

What signals do we send, whether we’re on or off the job? Are we basically the same whether we’re at work or at home? Would you hire the person I would not hire?

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 26th, 2007 at 4:25 pm and is filed under Leadership.