As office manager of our veterinary clinic, one of my most important duties is keeping the books and dealing with taxes. So the end of the year and beginning of the next is always busy for me as I complete our books, fill out and submit tax forms and prepare our paperwork for our accountant so that she may decide how many more thousands of dollars we owe our dear government. This all terrifies me because I feel like I'm going to end up in jail for a totally accidental error...
So right now is not the best time for me to spend on my least favorite job responsibility. Hiring.
This leaves me shorthanded with a pile of applications. Everyone wants to work in a vet clinic. They picture it as playing with cute, healthy puppies all day while they skip around and everyone giggles joyfully.
Unfortunately, that's a small part of our job. And we require employees who can learn a lot and multitask well. They are responsible for answering phones, selling products at the front desk, filling prescriptions, restraining animals, assisting in surgery, running anesthesia, cleaning the clinic, etc.
There are only 5 girls that work with us so we are all very close meaning we have to LIKE our employees. And it's much nicer if they like each other too.
Which eliminates so many applicants right away. I am amazed at how BAD some of these resumes and applications are. Things that eliminate you from a job with us (all have actually happened):
-wearing pajama pants to your interview.
-asking if a criminal felony makes them ineligible for a job with us. Uh, yeah.
-asking if we run background checks and/or do drug testing. Guessing I already know the results on those.
-Being fired from many of your past positions.
-listing 20 jobs on your résumé with the longest being only a few months long.
-not having a car. We don't trust that your mama should be able to bring you.
-listing skills on your résumé that are grade school such as "cut and paste". Makes me feel like you're really reaching into thin air.
-nearly crying during your interview because you are still having PTSD about your childhood dog's death.
-getting woozy when we walk by the surgery room because blood makes you sick.
-displaying your lovely boob tattoo during your interview. I should not be looking at a tata tattoo at work.
So right now is not the best time for me to spend on my least favorite job responsibility. Hiring.
This leaves me shorthanded with a pile of applications. Everyone wants to work in a vet clinic. They picture it as playing with cute, healthy puppies all day while they skip around and everyone giggles joyfully.
Unfortunately, that's a small part of our job. And we require employees who can learn a lot and multitask well. They are responsible for answering phones, selling products at the front desk, filling prescriptions, restraining animals, assisting in surgery, running anesthesia, cleaning the clinic, etc.
There are only 5 girls that work with us so we are all very close meaning we have to LIKE our employees. And it's much nicer if they like each other too.
Which eliminates so many applicants right away. I am amazed at how BAD some of these resumes and applications are. Things that eliminate you from a job with us (all have actually happened):
-wearing pajama pants to your interview.
-asking if a criminal felony makes them ineligible for a job with us. Uh, yeah.
-asking if we run background checks and/or do drug testing. Guessing I already know the results on those.
-Being fired from many of your past positions.
-listing 20 jobs on your résumé with the longest being only a few months long.
-not having a car. We don't trust that your mama should be able to bring you.
-listing skills on your résumé that are grade school such as "cut and paste". Makes me feel like you're really reaching into thin air.
-nearly crying during your interview because you are still having PTSD about your childhood dog's death.
-getting woozy when we walk by the surgery room because blood makes you sick.
-displaying your lovely boob tattoo during your interview. I should not be looking at a tata tattoo at work.
Pajama pants to an interview? Oh my, I've heard it all- ha! At the boarding kennel I work at, we get some very interesting characters who apply. I sometimes help go through apps- the thing that stands out to me is the email addresses these people have- SO inappropriate for professional resumes. I also love searching for applicants on FB- that's entertaining!
ReplyDeleteI am an HR Manager and I totally feel you!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy personal favorite interviewee was a guy whose email (he listed it as his contact info) was pimpdaddy6969 and when I called him his ringback was Ass and Ti.tties. I obviously had him come in for an interview, just so I could see this man.
And who walks in, some tall skinny white guy teenager with zits and a FUBU shirt.
Amazing.
Good luck on hiring.
Side note, it helps if you create a candidate profile. Basically look at the successful people currently there and where they have worked, positions they have held, age, etc. This makes it sooo much easier. Also, it will help you to figure out where to post the job as well!
I'm cracking up at the tata tattoo! Oh.my.word. to be a fly on your wall when interview's happen would be entertaining! Good luck in your quest for a normal employee.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I have to do hiring at my agency as well. I'm always amazed at what people think passes as "professional." Scary! No wonder our unemployment rate is so high, lol!
ReplyDelete