The Interview of all Interviews

You know, dating is like interviewing. The two of you meet up and each of you spends the evening interrogating the other to try and see if you would be the best for their ‘company.’ You are constantly taking mental note of what the other person says and have a subconscious tally system going on in your head. Too many strikes, and you already know there will only be need for just one interview. Any possibility of a 2nd interview has just been expunged. However, if they do well in their first round, round 2 becomes a necessity because you have found potential in said candidate, but are still waiting before you cast that final ballot.

Then, before the 2nd round of interviews, you seek the opinions and/or advice of your co-workers (ie friends) as to whether or not said person is right for the position. And oftentimes, these stated opinions of the person in question will heavily weigh upon you and influence your decision to either require a 3rd series of interviews for further inspection, or to conclude that you have obtained all the information you need, and that said person is not fully qualified for the job.

Every now and then, one may be lucky enough to obtain a ‘trial-position’ (a relationship), but upon further examination, it is concluded that a full-time position (marriage) with this company (your significant other) is not in your future. So on you go again, setting up interviews with new candidates, and continuously interviewing and being interviewed for the most important job of your life.

You however, have picked up a few tips and pointers from your last “trial-run” and have thus learned some definite “dos and don’ts” and try to implement these things upon entering a new set of interviews. Concurrently, you have also learned certain things said person must have in order to qualify for the position as well as things that are to be avoided at all costs. Thus begins a new stage of interviews for both you and the person in question. Both parties start with the basic drilling and then delve deeper as time permits. The cycle repeats itself.

I don’t know about you, but this cycle gets old after a while…
So, I have a new plan; one that will surely speed up the process. At the beginning of the interview procedure give your candidate a questionnaire with all the necessities listed in checklist form, from most important to least important. IE “Loves camping __” or “eats healthy __”, etc. While they are filling out your questionnaire, you are dutifully filling out theirs. Upon completion the two of you exchange, review, and decide. 1, 2, 3, done! Wouldn’t that just cut so much unnecessary interviewing? Instead of playing the delicate dancing game for weeks or months on end, just cut the crap and get to the point. Who’s with me!?