Late on a Friday and we need some levity so it is anecdote time. The set up – I am conducting a phone interview for a consultative service company where excellent listening and verbal skills are required. After asking a candidate (that was doing quite well) some preliminary questions about their general experience, I started asking more sales process-oriented questions. My first sales-specific question was “What is your typical length for one sales cycle?”
His response, “I have been in this industry for almost 6 years but looking to make a change.”
I was utterly baffled. I apologized to the candidate and mentioned that my question was not clear and before I could restate it, the candidate interrupted me with this shocking statement:
“No I understood it perfectly.”
Good thing we were on the phone because my jaw literally dropped and I am sure I had a look of bewilderment on my face. Sensing a potential train wreck, I moved on and asked him more sales-process questions. The responses were just as bizarre. I can say I soon ended the call and thanked him for his time.