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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How do the problem employees manage to be hired in the first place? Are they good at making false first impressions? What about people who are terrible interviewers but make great employees? How can you spot the hidden gems and those who seem (superficially) great fits?[/quote]

Nepotism! :) Some people interview really well but it turns out, are awful in ways you just can't predict. Like the older lady my coworker hired. On paper she was great - solid work history, solid skills, bi-lingual, great first impression. Then she started and the complaints were rolling in - [b]she constantly talked way too loudly,[/b] wasn't a team player, talked way too much without enough substance, [b]drank soda at her desk all day long and spilled it every other day. [/b]

There are certain things that are giveaways of nervousness. I watch body language and sometimes if I think someone has potential but came across poorly we'll bring them back for a second interview. Normally if someone is even the tiniest bit late, I throw out their resume. But when someone just moved to the area three days ago, it's pouring rain, they tripped and fell on the sidewalk and have a bloody knee and show up 20 minutes late ... well sometimes you have to be open to breaking your own rules, you know? (That is a real example that happened to someone who, it turns out, is a great asset.) [/quote]

So you scrutinize your employees based on arbitrary behavioral benchmarks rather than the quality of their work? What other types of complaints do you get? So and so wears green and the manager hates green? Someone goes to the bathroom too often? [/quote]

This woman was talking so loudly that everyone in an office near her was closing their door and the people without offices couldn't concentrate or hear people they were on the phone with. She was spilling a large glass of Coke every day or every other day - we found out she was the one taking roll after roll of paper towel out of the kitchen and storing it at her desk for these spills. Those are only two of the MANY issues with that particular woman. It was a few years ago, but I can't recall so many people ever complaining about one person like that besides her.

We get complaints that Jane is trying to hog the printer and tell others they can't print to it. That Scott is smoking in his office. That Dave is cursing while on calls in his office with the door open and making people who sit outside it uncomfortable. That people's lunch got stolen. That Mike is giving someone work but they are swamped and don't even work for Mike. That Dave told them to work with Jane on a project but Jane is refusing to collaborate in any way. That Jenna drank four glasses of wine at the one-hour conference and is now slurring her words in a meeting with a client. I hear all kinds of stuff. Someone even complained to me once that a new mom brought her baby in during a childcare snafu and she wasn't getting a chance to hold the baby because other coworkers were hogging him. :) [/quote]

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