NotJobs: Too Much Information

Last month, a woman code named “The Recruiter” started documenting some of the more interesting ways she’s seen people talk themselves out of getting hired. Her blog is called “How Not to Get a Job“. The story she published on 20 August documents an experience that many of us in the headhunting trade experience with Too Much Information. Here are the details of a candidate’s response when asked Standard Interview Question #2, “So, why did you leave your previous position?”:

He once again stopped taking his meds and one fateful day The Director announced a new buying process was going into place with a new software package. Joe took this personally, although the package was designed to make everyone’s job easier, Joe in his altered mental state threatened to get his twelve-gauge and blow The Director away (talk about shooting the messenger.)

Now the story is horrific, but what came after the story was worse. Some of you might be sympathizing with poor Joe right now, but you have to understand, he told this story, and then tried to say that ABC company fired him without cause. I remember the last line specifically, “It’s not like I could actually shoot him, the police had already taken all of my guns.”

Her experience is (unfortunately) common, and her advice is levelheaded. Don’t share too much information.

PS. Note to “The Recruiter”: Welcome to the blogosphere!