“Say no more, I won’t work there”

I decline interviews because the company has a “reputation”

Do you decline interviews in this economy? If you said you won’t work for a specific company or you have declined an interview with a specific company, I am going to urge you to think again. If you are unemployed, wake the F**K up. This is not an economy where anyone can be choosey or decline interviews with ANY company. If for nothing else, it is easier to get a job when you have a job.

I have heard this more than a couple of times over the last couple of months.  In Seattle, there are a number of large corporations that have reputations for being just that, “Large Corporations”.  The reputations are that of any company. Some are slow-moving, some have lost their start-up mentality, and some are just tough places to work. So frickin what???  It doesn’t mean you should automatically decline interviews. Are you going to assign that reputation to the entire company because of what you have heard from one or two people? More than likely negative people or employees with a beef?   These are great companies, with great benefits, great support infrastructure and hugely profitable with money in the bank.  So what if you can’t “make a difference”, or you are one of 50K clones. IT IS A JOB!  If you can afford this mentality, you either don’t need a job badly enough, or you don’t deserve the job. I don’t want to hire someone who isn’t even going to explore the option.

I appreciate finding your passion as much as anybody but to decline interviews based on company reputation alone is prejudice and bordering on racist. I believe in finding a match between the employer and the company.  I understand why HR people sling this. (I sling it myself in the right economy or when folks already have a job and can afford to be picky)  Wake up, people. In this economy, the goal is to find a job. There are few enough jobs out there without cutting out some of the largest employers in the city.

Here is my rant.

It isn’t the company, it is the manager and your attitude that will make or break your career.  In the end, it isn’t even the manager, but your attitude! 

Despite the myths, there are plenty of crappy managers at smaller private companies. There are plenty of great managers in Fortune 500.  Fortune companies are the ones that have the ability and resources to invest in the training of their managers.   Fortune companies have a lot to offer.  Specifically, a JOB. People don’t quit a company, they quit a manager.  Don’t decline interviews and pass up potential opportunities. You want to decline an offer, not an opportunity to interview. You won’t know what the offer is unless you interview.

I would say it is exactly this closed-minded attitude that is keeping people from getting hired.  As a recruiter, I am looking for someone who sees the possibility.  I am looking for someone who can accept feedback. I am looking for someone who will figure out how it can work vs. someone who will jump to “how it can’t”.  A smart guy

Let’s say there is an opening at ACME Publisher and ACME has a weak reputation.  Interview with them. You aren’t dealing with the entire corporation of 10K, 20K, or 50K employees. You are dealing with your manager and your team of 5-20 employees.  Even then, on a daily basis, you will probably really interact with 2, 3, maybe half a dozen on a regular basis.  Don’t assume that every manager sucks.  You might get lucky. You can create luck!

Make these relationships work.  Do everything you can. See how I recommend you manage your manager here. If you come into the situation with a mentality that it CAN work, vs. one where you assume it won’t. Well, it won’t.

I challenge you. If you are unemployed and have resisted interviewing with some of these companies then rethink your ENTIRE mentality, because this lack of open-mindedness is probably being sensed during your interviews and keeping you out of the running.

See you at the after party,

HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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