Ask Katie: Are these interviewees bad eggs?

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Q: I recently interviewed two potential technicians. They were qualified on paper, but the way they behaved in the interview threw me off a little. Should I assume they would be different with clients and hire them for their skills?

A: One of the best quotes I've ever heard came from the late Maya Angelou. She said, “When people show you who they are, listen.” Generally speaking, people are on their absolute best behavior when they're being interviewed, so if these technicians didn't exceed your expectations during their time to shine, they're not going to improve their performance once they've got the job. In fact, the opposite is usually true-people put on a great face for the interview and get themselves hired, only to show who they really are three to six weeks into working for you. Consider yourself lucky that you got a glimpse of their true nature during the interview. These two candidates need to be sent a polite “no thank you” letter.

Katie Adams, CVPM, is director of Curriculum Development at IGNITE Veterinary Solutions. Got a question for Katie? Email us at firstline@ubm.com.