Tags: bias, dear claudia, dear_claudia, perception, recruiting, tattoos, wednesday wisdom
Sorry Karen - but you are once again looking to the GOVERNMENT to "protect" us from ourselves, aren't you? It really surprises me to see someone in this business - a business which is really quite an entreprenerial field - to look to the government as much as you. Not trying to start a flame war here - just a reasonable dialogue about your need to be protected so much by the government. Very odd, really.....
Dear Amazed,
It sounds like to me you took a bite of the "stupid" sandwich yourself. Did you look at your candidate's facebook page before you sent him to see what ,if any ,crazy stuff he had out there to create his "brand". This one really got carried away with branding himself it sounds like. Had you done that and gotten a full dose of a cat, who, in some people's opinion ,is into self multilation and exhibitionism, what then? Now you got yourself several options. Did you ask what your client's dress code, internet use, and conduct policies were so you knew the culture. Stupid or not it's their railroad and they get to blow the whistle. since you took a bite of stupid yourself Jerry's answer is the only way to go. If you had really known your candidate and your company there were some prior and proper preps to prevent a piss poor performance.
Options to keep from taking another bite of the stupid sandwitch.
A. Internet search result not pleasant, quick call your candidate and say, "Listen Picaso, while i am into body art myself, some folks may not appreciate that Monkey waving out of your butt that you have on your facebook page so my question is: Is this job more important to you than branding yourself as a candidate for the circus. If so how about we put the monkey under cover. If your candidate thinks that his right to express his love for his mother, three girlfriends , a fire breathing dragon along with his stint in the Marines and the monkey on the internet is more important than gainful employment move on to option B. If he says , "oh crap, i got drunk in Singapore and did that, wish i hadn't but i really want this job" . Your question is, are you amenable to taking that off your page, wearing long sleeve shirts summer and winter and never making the evidence of a big drunk in Singapore known to your co workers? Candidate says, "absolutely" Move on to option C.
Option B. Determining that Picaso is into a self defeating mind set of self expresssion. Find a company that thinks the Monkey is funny, the hiring manager has a prison tat on his neck and roll with your candidate.
Option C. Determining that your candidate has matured a bit since he expressed himself on his backside and thought only his rat pack looked at his brand, make sure the mess is off the net, make sure he understands that the company culture is ultra conservative, make sure that his facebook page has a business pic, a pic of his wife and kids on the way to Easter mass and a picture of his mom and grandmother as well as notation of his distinguished service medal. Make a call to the HM, tell him that your candidate got stupid and had some extensive body art done while he was serving the country overseas ,is aware that it needs to be covered up and is willing to be sure it is at all times. Refer the HM to the facebook page or assume he will look at it, send the resume and set up the interview. Pray that your candidate is telling the truth. Pray that the HM will see another side of the candidate and be able to evaluate him on the basis of his interview, his skills and think you are a brick for making full disclosure.
You can't fix stupid on the part of your candidate or your HM but you can keep from taking a bite of the sandwich and having stupid all over your own chin.
But Karen - this issue is not about needing to be protected. Isn't the candidate responsible for the image they create for the world to see? But now you're saying the government needs to step in and "protect" them from the reaction by employers for those images?
Sorry but I don't agree with needing Big Brother at every turn - especially when it comes to the ramifications of individual choice.
Thomas,
agreed on all points. The "drunk when he got the tat "was a tongue in cheek thingy. Joke, satire whatever, of course he knew. :)
Broadbean Gets that You are Busy
Broadbean reduces your workload through the use of our job distribution technology.
Sign Up For Your Free Daily Deals!
Sign up and receive deals specific to Recruiting. Conferences, Technology, Job Boards...it's FREE!
Build a FREE Talent Community in under 10 minutes!
Consolidate social media and build your employer brand to source, recruit, hire and develop.
www.bravenewtalent.com
Want a Text Link on every page of RecruitingBlogs.com?
© 2012 Created by Noel and Tim.

