Dream Job Pursuit. Episode 3.

Episode 3. Interview with a recruiting agency.

All coincidences in the script are random, truth and fiction are mixed. The name of the agency and the name of the director have been changed.

 - Hello, Olga! This is the director of the well-known recruiting agency "Talent Hunters", Elena. Your former colleague recommended you to me as a L&D professional. The whole Ukrainian labor market is eager to get you into their companies. You can't refuse to meet me! When is it convenient for you?

Olya once took a course on managing emotions, but there are situations when it is difficult for her to keep a poker face and not react immediately. This phone call, like all upcoming communication, was like a sudden opening of the door to the meditation studio, when people learn the Almighty and feed on prana, and then life itself bursts in without a call or warning with the words: “Stop doing those ridiculous staff, go to work."

Olya accepted an invitation to a zoom meeting from Elena, as job search includes communication with even the most odious talent acquisition specialists. 

In the most extraordinary outcome, it will be a funny experience.

Elena and Olga met on zoom, and it could have been an ordinary meeting of a recruiter and an applicant, but then it would not have been included in our movie. So…

In the left window we see a prominent blonde lady wearing a beige jacket, dark hair pulled into a ponytail, massive rings in her ears, and scarlet lipstick on her lips.

On the right there is our hero in her favourite blue jacket, with nude makeup and with all the interview kit that you have already seen in the previous series

Elena: Olga, I was very happy when I found out that you are open to new opportunities. One large Ukrainian corporation is looking for a Head of Training Department. And they really want to meet you.

Olga: That's nice to hear. Let's discuss the role requirements.

Elena: Yes, of course. But first, I would like to clarify a number of important things.

Olga: OK

Elena: How old are you?

At that very moment, an accident happened behind Olya's back. The pot with her favourite flower fell from the windowsill with a deafening sound, all the ground spilled onto the carpet, and the flower sobbed miserably.

As they say during such moments when you are asked such questions at an interview, and before that you had been growing up for at least five years in the atmosphere of well-trained golden standards for interviews, assessment centres built and organised better than the celestials ever did, and your company's competency models resembled the bible, shining on the tablets of angels - there are only two ways left:

1. Take this conversation as an experiment and follow the rules of the interview's game.

2. Get a dazzling white coat out of the closet and, flashing it, snort loudly and say “OMG, you can't ask such discriminative things!”

Olya chose the first option and the conversation continued:

Olya: 41.

Elena put e down the number of Olya's age in a notebook and asked:

 - Are you married?

“What an interesting and unusual experiment. I wonder what will happen next and where the hell is my popcorn?" - Olya thought.

 - No, I'm divorced.

 - Do you have children?

 - Two sons 8 and 6 years old.

Elena leaned back in her chair of the recruiting agency she was director of, sighed, and said mercilessly in a surgeon's voice:

 - So you are 41, you are divorced and you have two small children. How do you manage all that?

 - ... I am a multishaped Shiva

 - And seriously?

 - As you can see, I am still alive.

 - And where do you live?

 - In Boryspil

 - And how do you go to Kyiv?

 - By car

 - Do you have a car?

 - Yes

“Please don't ask, don't ask about the brand of the car. It’s better to go straight into the loop” - our hero thought, but she didn’t raise an eyebrow either.

Elena: well, everything is clear with you! You are a careerist.

Olga: …? Sorry?

Elena: Well, a careerist is a successful independent woman. This is just what the company needs. Excellent When could you come to tier office for an interview?

Olya: Let's discuss the details of the role and requirements.

Elena: It's not necessary. Your resume is great, and your references are good.

Olya: then tell me at least some information about the company.

Elena: the company is very big with great opportunities and prospects, and when you see their office you will simply fall in love! They have a huge marble walk-in closet with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. It is very comfortable!

Olya: Is it possible to work remotely?

Elena: I'll have to find out…

When this interview ended and Olya left the zoom room, taking off her headphones, it was clear that not one flowerpot, but all five fell to the floor in the room …

Well, let it be a funny experiment - Olya decided and continue her routine. 

Of course, she did not plan to go to the second interview. But the continuation of this story was look like an apotheosis when Olya received an email from Elena, in a copy of which were her potential future manager of exactly THAT company with a marble dressing room and floor-length mirrors.

The letter was an invitation to a second interview and the first paragraph in red bold type was the diagnosis of Olya's personality. And it looked like an irreversible and fatal outcome, not giving Olya a single chance to show her talents in any way, except:

Olga is 41 years old. She is divorced and has two children. Lives in Boryspil and drives her own car. Will be happy to come for an interview"

Olya sighed, pressed Reply to all and graciously refused further meetings.

"Talent hunters" led by director Elena will forever remain in Olga's memory as the brightest representatives of the recruiting world.

Moral of the series: There's a lot to see and hear when you start expanding your comfort zone.

In the following series:

Olya had several meetings with different companies, but only with one, that our hero really liked, the hiring process lasted more than three months. It finished with an offer. 

Did Olya accept it?

To be continued…

May 31, 2021