19/01/2024
The man entered the room and settled into a chair, facing a panel of three people. John, positioned at the center of the table, took the lead. "Greetings, I'm John, the head of this department. On either side of me are colleagues from within the same department. Allow them to introduce themselves."
Pleasantries were exchanged with each of the panelists.
John: I must acknowledge, you come with quite the reputation.
The man remained silent.
John: I heard about your application and the rather unfortunate turn of events during an interview at one of our branches.
The man replied, "Yeah, the interview turned into a complete disaster, and I left amidst laughter."
A chuckle escaped John.
John: Admittedly, I've never received a call from HR warning about extending an interview to someone labeled as a 'trouble marker.'
The man reiterated, "As I mentioned, the entire interview went south."
John: I'm interested in your perspective. Word has it that you turned the tables on the Senior Agent during the interview. I'm told you shouted at her, "What's the issue with my answer?" They said she just locked up and stared at you, trying to regain her composure.
He explained, "Well, frustration got the best of me. Before I knew it, I found myself questioning the lady in charge. I might have been a little over the top with my attitude and demeanor."
John: Raising your voice was a bold move.
He said, "It cost me an opportunity, so I would add that it wasn't just bold; it was stupid and short-sighted."
John: Apparently, her subordinates were laughing because she wanted to strangle you with her eyes for embarrassing her.
He defended, "She might be exceptionally skilled at her job but lacks the ability to take criticism. How does the old saying go? You can dish it but can't take it."
John: That's a fair point, and it sounds like you've done a self-assessment on yourself. These are all good things.
He said nothing.
John: She rated you a zero out of 100 on your application – a score usually reserved for walkouts. Even applicants without experience score higher. I requested HR to share your information so I could look at the incident with a touch of fairness. On the whole, there is no way you deserved a zero, but that's what you got. I can't change that.
He responded, "She's very good at what she does."
John: Which is?
He responded, "Eliminating dissenting viewpoints."
John nodded thoughtfully. While four people occupied the room, the other two remained silent observers.
