Really. Do you want dishonest or lazy employees? Is there anything worse? What’s the point of highly skilled labor with loads of experience if the employee gives you bad information or doesn’t do a whole lot? The resumes are full of lies and claims on other people’s work and accomplishments.
The interview process as we are taught is extremely biased towards hiring dishonest and lazy people. I once sat through a series of classes on how to find a job. They teach you how to nail correct answers to interview questions, practice them and refine them. Some of the worst employees I’ve ever hired have had the best interviews ever.
The books on hiring practices crutch this useless answer: interviewing is bad, but what is better? Ugh. Interviewing is not just bad, it is completely and utterly useless. Screen screen screen is the mantra. Guess what? Most jobs don’t require people to be good with set answers to predictable questions. In fact most jobs don’t require a whole lot of talking in general. Why are you hiring actors? Why are you hiring future friends? Are you starting a fraternity/sorority? Sociability is required for certain salespeople and certain service personnel, not much else.
Here are my favorite interview questions: “Will you be willing to work nights and weekends?” “If work requires you now and then to stay until 10pm, will this be a problem?” Both questions force an honest and work ethic answer.
“We need someone in the office to clean the bathroom, this job falls to the newest employee. Do you understand this?” Dishonest and lazy people will start running for the door.
