How Do I Fend Off an Exasperating Job Candidate?

http://www.michaelpage.com.sg

Dear Stanley,

A new job just opened up in my department and I’ve been given the task of interviewing candidates for the position. The issue is this: there’s a woman who used to work here. She left maybe five years ago to open her own operation, and it didn’t do very well. Now she’s looking for a job, any job, and she won’t leave me alone. She has e-mailed me about the post maybe six or seven times already. I answered each time, telling her that it’s a long process and I would keep her in mind when I recommend people to my bosses. That’s not enough for her. She insists on coming in and having an interview. So I told her okay, I would let her know. She then wrote several letters to various people, going around me, which annoyed me. Then she had the wife of a board member call the president! He said it was up to me, but please treat her with respect and so forth. There’s one thing I know: I don’t want to recommend this person. It’s been years since she’s been in the swim. She was never a top player to begin with. And her behavior right now makes me feel like she’s a nightmare. But I’m afraid that dealing with her during the process and afterwards, when she doesn’t get the job, is going to be horrendous. Is there anything I can do to ease her pain … and mine?

Signed,

Too Annoyed for Empathy

Dear TAFE,

You’re pretty much on the right track. The question is, at what point does treating another person with tenderness and regard actually hurt them and you? It sounds to me like you’ve done everything in your power to let this force of nature off easy. She doesn’t want to hear it. She’s relentless. In fact, she’s pursuing business in a much more rigorous and straightforward fashion that you are. You’re letting your feelings get all balled up in the works. It may well be time to drop the caring, gentle approach and tell his person a couple of things. You want to be careful, though.

First, what to say, in a nutshell for this particular kind of nut:

You appreciate her interest. Thanks for writing, calling, pressuring, etc. You have a high regard for her initiative. Beyond that, it’s time for her to knock it off. It’s going to be YOUR decision who gets recommended to the powers that be. And going around you isn’t going to do anything but piss you off. She has many qualifications, you’re aware of that. They may or may not be right for this job, but they will certainly be taken into consideration when the time comes. Until then, you will be seeing a variety of people. At some point, you’ll have her in for a chat. You’ll have your people call her people.

You may then go to absolutely everybody involved in this matter and tell them that this individual is NOT what you are looking for, nor is she what they should be looking for. If she’s so out-of-control and inappropriate BEFORE she gets inside, what’s she going to be like if she gets in? She will, I would bet, employ all the tools and stratagems that are driving you crazy right now, only worse. Do not waver. Just remain unfailingly polite and firm.

And now for what you SHOULD NOT say:

“You’re a nut, Betty. Get out of my face.” “I have no intention of hiring you, so you’re wasting your time.” “Do you think you can go around me and get away with it? I don’t care WHO you know!” “You’re too _______________ to get the job.”

In the words of the ancient saw, you don’t want her to go away mad, you just want her to go away. Don’t worry. In the end, she will. Until the next job pops up, of course.