"Goomba38" > wrote in message

>> One of my best hires gives a terrible resume and mediocre interview
>> skills, but he is top notch at what he does. Been with us 10 years now.
> So what did he have going for him that prompted you to hire him?
> Seriously... I'm curious? I know someone who was a teacher for 20 years
> with a Masters degree in Education. Due to some depression and other
> issues she has a horrible time explaining why she quit teaching and is now
> doing menial labor yet is trying to get back into teaching. Getting that
> interview has been difficult.

I was looking for mechanical ability, not an English major or a customer
contact person. You have to first set your sights on the fact that many
great mechanics are poor spellers and don't know what side of the paper a
resume should be printed on. While the ability to get along with others is
a big plus, a bubbly personality is not required for some jobs. The guy had
some experience mechanically, was at his last job for quite a few years, so
I gave him a try. It worked. Very well

I've also hired people with great resumes and good interviews that did not
work out.

About a dozen years ago, I hired a young guy with limited experience
flipping burgers. I was not going to even talk to him, but the secretary
asked me to because she though he'd be good for us. (she had a hunch) We
really needed somebody so I hired him to work in shipping and warehouse.
The second shift supervisor met him and mumbles "they give me all the
retards". This guy appeared to be a bit slow. After a couple of months we
had an opening on first shift and that same supervisor said, "you're not
going to take XXX away from me are you? He's the best guy I've ever had."

He is now the shipping supervisor, is a great organizer of space, is
accurate and can do math in his head that is unheard of by today's
graduates. When you tell him something new, he has to repeat it back to
you, sometimes twice, to be sure. Then he never forgets it. First
impressions can be deceiving and I've learned to slow down, think about what
potential a person may have, and give a chance.