Interesting headunter job interview behavior

[widebody911]

I have a job interview for a position in this area, not a big deal in and of itself, but this headhunting firm has a bizarre policy: they insist on sending one of their minions to sit in on the interview. The minion doesn't actively participate, but they sit there, listen, and take notes.

They say that is for my protection. From what?

I have never seen this before. I interviewed - through them - for a position last year, and there were candidates from other companies. None of the other candidates had chaperones.

Have any of you ever dealt with this before?

I suspect it's more of a way to gather intel on the target company's process, and get a better feel for how the candidate was received, performed on the interview, etc.

[URY914]

Odd and a little creepy.

[KFC911]

No way in hell I'd agree to that...

[Don Plumley]

Maybe they figure anyone that obsessed with VW's needs a minder... ;-)

/humor off
That's odd. I've never, ever, heard of that. I'm surprised the potential employer agrees.

[mepstein]

My friends father was a headhunter for years. He had a very successful career. He never sat in on an interview.

[masraum]

Very weird.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I suspect it's more of a way to gather intel on the target company's process, and get a better feel for how the candidate was received, performed on the interview, etc.

yup

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I suspect it's more of a way to gather intel on the target company's process, and get a better feel for how the candidate was received, performed on the interview, etc.

If that's the case, then it's the company who should have an issue with that, not you.
More likely, they want to vet YOU, and not send you to more interviews if you're a bust.
What's more important than making a single placement is not burning the golden goose client.

[M.D. Holloway]

Pics?

[911boost]

As a kid, one of our neighbors was a headhunter, he had some awesome Ferrari's.

It must pay well.

[Bill Douglas]

It sounds like a good idea. They could say after the interview; do this, don't do that.

When I was a computer tech I was really good at the job, just not good a getting the job. I'd have loved to have someone positively critique my failed interview style.

[John Rogers]

If I understand this correctly, the head hunter firm got you the interview and sent you out there? If so I would ask they why they did that and if they were not involved I would ask the interview person/team who the "observer" was and why they were there. If the answer is blank stares or wishy-washy then I thank them and get up and leave.

I did that on several interviews over the years when I was asked questions that were illegal or bad for other reasons. Dammmmm it is good to be retired!

[unclebilly]

i think they are doing this to protect their interests, not yours. Head hunters get a percentage of your salary for up to a year (paid by the employer). I think they are making sure that they are covered if you get an offer for a different position than the one you are interviewing for (and they are contracted to help fill).

I was head hunted for my current job and was offered the job at the first interview. The head hunter didn't have a contract in place for this position and was quite taken aback when I told her that I was given an offer.

My employer did pay her for her services and everything went well.

[Oracle]

Who cares if there is a guy there.. at least you they're watching instead of secretly recording the interview..

you're there for the job.. just get it and get the paycheck.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

It sounds like a good idea. They could say after the interview; do this, don't do that.

When I was a computer tech I was really good at the job, just not good a getting the job. I'd have loved to have someone positively critique my failed interview style.

I "retired" from a career as a communications systems programmer/networkng guy some years back. When I was a young pup, a HH landed me a position in FL for a large bank (now part of BoA) after I was in R&D at IBM. Very useful at the time, and yes, the bank paid his fees...a chunk . After getting a few more years experience, my OTJ credentials, reputation, and personal contacts, landed me two more (my careee spanned four large corps over 25 years). Along the way, another HH that placed a co-worker at another large bank here in NC became "mine", though I never used him and he never made a cent off of me, he stayed in contact with me for at least a dozen years...occasionally calling to see if I was interested in a position he was trying to fill. I never was, he was a consumate professional however, and I had skilz. I am NOT a people person, nor a polished interviewee imo...but that wasn't what I was selling, and I did OK. As an AVP at another bank, a HH contacting us with a candidate would autimatically get you eliminated from consideration, the fees aren't cheap, and are porportional to the salaries for a position, and we had no shortage of folks to hire, almost always through professional contacts....rarely via HR. So, use a HH with caution...if they aren't "good" and broadcast your resume, they might be doing you a great disservice, and you won't even realize it .

This scenario you describe is totally whacked....from both sides of the desk imo...RUN away.

But I'm a dinosaur now and things have changed a bit, . Funny story...when I joined a Pelican's LinkedIn as a lark (just growing legs back then) probably a dozen years ago, my original HH from two decades prior made contact and asked if I was the same KC . I'm not saying HHs are a bad thing, for some fields , but as an IT techie, I just don't see that they offer squat these days....just my .02.

I finally got tired of the LinkedIn messages of folks fishing for me, contacts not related to my career, etc. so I changed my profile...

If you want to hire someone looking for the job of Hoss, on a huge ranch, then I'm still avsilable...but I don't come cheap

[bkreigsr]

This sounds wrong on several levels.

Ever see Groundhog Day?
Everyday, Bill Murray finds out more and more things that will gain him an advantage in his pursuits the next day.

The headhunter will note your responses, then later ask the employer what type of answer he was looking for, than pass that info back to the next candidate and so on, and so on.

You are at a distinct disadvantage, as the next candidate will be better prepared than you.

As the employer, a lot of his impressions are going to be based on how the candidate handles questions spontaneously. Not so much as to his knowledge, but how he handles himself in given situations.

Bill K

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I have a job interview for a position in this area, not a big deal in and of itself, but this headhunting firm has a bizarre policy: they insist on sending one of their minions to sit in on the interview. The minion doesn't actively participate, but they sit there, listen, and take notes.

They say that is for my protection. From what?

I have never seen this before. I interviewed - through them - for a position last year, and there were candidates from other companies. None of the other candidates had chaperones.

Have any of you ever dealt with this before?

I suspect it's more of a way to gather intel on the target company's process, and get a better feel for how the candidate was received, performed on the interview, etc.

Left coast? Sounds like KGB? My opinion, forget about it, move on, and try to find another job.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Maybe they figure anyone that obsessed with VW's needs a minder... ;-)

/humor off
That's odd. I've never, ever, heard of that. I'm surprised the potential employer agrees.

Nah, probably the Isetta. "That guy is going to get into that little scooter thing, really?"

[Esel Mann]

Widebody,

Simply put, the HH pyramid doesn't get paid unless the deal goes through. Someone actually has their **** together at that HH outfit. That is a rarity. As far as you are concerned, consider it an asset if you encounter this type of situation.

Though certainly not presented as such, the purpose of their presence is partly to collect info as you mentioned, but more importantly they are there to change the dynamic of the interview. Interview 'teams' generally ease up when a third party is there versus dog-piling if you are there all by your lonesome. Then upon conclusion of the interview the best part, someone coordinating the HH hounding of the hiring manager to close the deal. You don't get that option when you interview coming in the front door.

That said, the '3-way' is not rare, but I also don't want to say it's SOP either. I've encountered it many times when I was on the contracting circuit and it always seemed to be with a HH that had their **** together. So if you do encounter such, consider it as a sign that the heavens are shining upon you.

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Have any of you ever dealt with this before?

I suspect it's more of a way to gather intel on the target company's process, and get a better feel for how the candidate was received, performed on the interview, etc.

Happened to me once, the guy was at the meeting and I was surprised when he didnt just shake my hand in the lobby. Typical deal where they position me as a partner or similar when everyone knows we emailed a few times and met that day. It seemed they were only using the time to gather intel on the position and interviewer, no benefit to me.