Author: Lee Fratzke

This is the creepiest anecdote I have posted, but I think you will laugh. Recent responses to an ad led to 4 email from the same person. So being the inquisitive person that I am, I opened the emails and read through them. What I read was shocking to say the least – I will share with you what I can. The first email read: I am a plump sweatie . . . sorry . . . but working on that . .I used to be just tall and burly I am 6’1 I cannot share the last line. Then the second email came in just 1 minute later and… Read More

Friday, so let’s go to the anecdotes. I had a unique candidate call while conducting phone screens this past week. I talked to a candidate who said my name a thousand times if he said it once. I know, sounds silly, but after a couple questions into the interview, I was worn out from hearing my name so frequently. Let me give you an example from our discussion: “Well, Lee that’s a great question and I wished I could say that I have a quick response for you, Lee, but I need to think about that question for a moment.” With hardly a pause he continued, “Lee, I would say… Read More

Earlier this year I was conducting phone screens for a client whose service was always changing and evolving. Essentially, we knew a major key leading to success in the role was to find candidates with a Theoretical motivation. One of my screening questions was “What have you done in the last 3 years to further develop your sales skills?” A response from one of the applicants: “I have taken a bunch of Microsoft classes, from PowerPoint to Excel to Word to Access. If you name it, I’ve taken it.” Sounds right. Shows a desire to learn. But notice my question – develop your sales skills. Did these courses afford them… Read More

Friday sourcing anecdote time so let’s go. This one was an email response that I need to give you just a little background information. First, the company we were running this hiring process for had a few open positions on their website. Second, we were in different stages of the hiring process on several positions with several customers. I received this email with “work at home” for a subject: hi ijohna ilooking to work this at home can you call me asap 4561230978cst johna@email.com call me monday at 2;00pmcst I am always baffled by responses like this to employment ads. This guy obviously has some communication issues with email. Yet,… Read More

During a recent salesperson search involving a long, complex, technical sale, we posted a clearly written ad that asked candidates to either email their resumes or to call. I received a voicemail from a candidate who actually picked up the phone to call (something we always like to see in salespeople). However, here was his messagel: “I seen your ad and am currently in route sales. I need to get out of this position and make a change now. Please call me today so I can find out how soon I would be able to start.” He then left me his first name and his pager number. Desperation is rarely… Read More

It is Friday once again and time for another anecdote. In case you haven’t noticed, the phone screen is the source for most of these humorous encounters. I was recently conducting a phone screen for a high tech company with a complex sale. I asked the candidate what products and services he had sold and how this experience fit the requirements of the position listed in the ad. He replied with: That’s easy – my background fits very well. I’ve been a comic for over 10 years, an agent, sold cars at a dealership and car washes to gas stations. He never tied these experiences nor the skills he gained… Read More