Interview

[Quailhunter]

I was asked to spend some time with a young man who has been struggling with college and career decisions.

We had an excellent discussion about career choices, the value of a college degree, and interviewing skills. I was very direct while trying hard to not be brutal. I came away hoping the young man could manage to find his way in life.

The one suggestion I did not make was “ditch the watch”.

He was wearing either a real or replica Rolex. It was white metal, blue face, Sub type bezel. The young man is slender with small wrist.

Not only did the watch look way too big, but I thought it highly inappropriate for someone his age looking for a first serious job.

Right decision?

[padi56]

Do you interview the person on his merits and skills for the job or do you interview his watch he was wearing.

[Stevec14]

Originally Posted by padi56

Do you interview the person on his merits and skills for the job or do you interview his watch he was wearing.

This. A watch bears no relation as to whether someone can or cannot do a job.

Whether a watch matches ones attire is a different question.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by padi56

Do you interview the person on his merits and skills for the job or do you interview his watch he was wearing.

First impressions and subconscious bias are an unfortunate part of the modern job interview. You manage this by how you choose to present yourself.


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[Moggo]

Unfortunately lots of people judge a book by its cover.......


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[superdog]

Of course...how a person chooses to represent themselves is a direct reflection on their judgment.

Good judgement, or lack thereof, is a valid indicator of how someone will perform on their job duties.

[THC]

Originally Posted by superdog

Of course...how a person chooses to represent themselves is a direct reflection on their judgment.

Good judgement, or lack thereof, is a valid indicator of how someone will perform on their job duties.

This for sure... real world is brutal and plenty of folks judge on the smallest factors when hiring

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by superdog

Of course...how a person chooses to represent themselves is a direct reflection on their judgment.

Good judgement, or lack thereof, is a valid indicator of how someone will perform on their job duties.

I agree, but personally when i would interview job candidates and if someone walked in wearing a Patek (for example) for a right out of college job, it would signal to me that they want to be there, not that they have to be. So many people just want a job but dont really want that job. Subtle cues like that would lead me to believe they dont just have to take whatever is offered and they actually want to be sitting there because clearly they are not desperate. It never happened but i think that would be my take on it.

Some people would take the opposite view so its a flip of the coin

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by padi56

Do you interview the person on his merits and skills for the job or do you interview his watch he was wearing.

Originally Posted by superdog

Of course...how a person chooses to represent themselves is a direct reflection on their judgment.

Good judgement, or lack thereof, is a valid indicator of how someone will perform on their job duties.

I’m somewhere in the middle.

I think alot depends on the career / job that they are interviewing for. Appearance is important and everyone judges by it. I think it’s naive to think otherwise.

Having said that, I’d say it’s what you know vs. how you look that’ll help that young man win the job, and I don’t think the watch will even get noticed.

[Moggo]

A smart suit doesn’t make a smart man though.....dangerous to employ on that basis.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1William]

Until you know, you don't know. Many times we make things more difficult by not understanding the culture of employment. I get and appreciate the "I will wear what I want" within reason but sometimes you are better served not too. I would have had the discussion with the young man and been direct but not abrasive.

[Raku]

I believe you can't be too judgemental regarding the first impression.
An good (and subsequently expensive) watch shouldn't carry a negative image - it could easily be an heirloom item or a graduation present.

[Zakalwe]

I would not want to work for a person or organisation that was so shallow that they judged my suitability to work for them on the basis of the watch I was wearing.

[Moggo]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

I would not want to work for a person or organisation that was so shallow that they judged my suitability to work for them on the basis of the watch I was wearing.

This.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[herts9]

There was a line in Moneyball when the scouts were evaluating players and one said a player had an ugly girlfriend which meant he had no confidence.

Out of place watch aside, and bad decision in that realm, does not necessarily mean he's not a good working and knows his stuff.

[Brew]

I guess it depends upon the purpose of your interview. If you're counseling the young man, helping him to prepare for the interview dog and pony show, then I think it's fair to point out that such a watch may or may not be well-received. If, however, you are actually interviewing a candidate, such a comment would be inappropriate, imo.

[indexmatch]

If it's even a question, it's not worth it.

I think there are upsides (e.g. the interviewer could be a WIS), but largely the downsides outweigh it in my opinion. While I don't care when I interview people, there are a lot of interviewers (and people I know who interview) that do.

You'll never get dinged for wearing no watch, but there is a non-zero probability that you could get dinged for wearing a nice watch.

[GoingPlaces]

Wrong decision, you hire based on merit. Of course image has much to do as well but it's not my place to advise or judge someone because they are wearing an expensive timepiece. Actually, I would see that as ambition which is a good thing. An insecure person may see this wrong. Maybe it was a gift?

[FTX I]

Sounds more like the fashion police to me but I would have mentioned. I wouldn't be able to ignore it.

[Beckster]

Dam. I should have started a thread here first before going for that counseling session. Should have known he’d notice my sub. Lol.

[Wesley Crusher]

If you are a WIS interviewing somebody and notice that they are wearing a Folex, is it an automatic disqualification?

[beshannon]

So his clothing was fine? His shoes? His haircut? How was his choice of watch a factor at all?

I believe you did him a great disservice

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Quailhunter

The one suggestion I did not make was “ditch the watch”.


Not only did the watch look way too big, but I thought it highly inappropriate for someone his age looking for a first serious job.

Right decision?

I am a bit confused. You did not tell him to ditch the watch and since the watch was "way too big", in retrospect you are wondering if you made the right call?

Is/was the central issue, the size: "way too big", or "highly inappropriate" (due to age and initial job search)?

Venture to offer:

1.) If it was fake and you recognized it, then it would have been appropriate to take the kid under your wing and offer sage advice on why it´s not kosher to wear a fake. But you didn't tell him to ditch the watch, be it fake or not, so this is a moot point.

2.) If it was a genuine rolex, then why couldn't one conclude that the young man is success driven and the watch is a testament to his interest in continuing to strive for "bigger-n-better" things?

[BDGator]

As a NYC finance guy who interviews a lot of undergrads - he shouldn’t wear a Rolex to interview. It mostly gives the vibe that you are wearing something your rich parents handed you. There is nothing about aspiring or WIS, etc. Wear one when you earned it.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by BDGator

As a NYC finance guy who interviews a lot of undergrads - he shouldn’t wear a Rolex to interview. It mostly gives the vibe that you are wearing something your rich parents handed you. There is nothing about aspiring or WIS, etc. Wear one when you earned it.

This^
Hiring processes are often more subjective than perhaps they should be.
Wear one when you can pay for it yourself (at least to the interview)

[CLG23]

Originally Posted by DARK_KNIGHT

I am a bit confused. You did not tell him to ditch the watch and since the watch was "way too big", in retrospect you are wondering if you made the right call?

Is/was the central issue, the size: "way too big", or "highly inappropriate" (due to age and initial job search)?

Venture to offer:

1.) If it was fake and you recognized it, then it would have been appropriate to take the kid under your wing and offer sage advice on why it´s not kosher to wear a fake. But you didn't tell him to ditch the watch, be it fake or not, so this is a moot point.

2.) If it was a genuine rolex, then why couldn't one conclude that the young man is success driven and the watch is a testament to his interest in continuing to strive for "bigger-n-better" things?

exactly what I was thinking


but people are so judgey... I get OP's point(i don't agree) which is why I am aware of my watches in certain situations

[AK797]

I'd just mention it looks too big for you, just like a big suit wouldn't look too good either, I wouldn't mention the brand or go any deeper.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

The "wait until you can afford it" , theme keeps popping up in the thread.


People can inherit , be gifted or even find a "lost" watch.

My Casio - on a Blue Light Special sale or (my) Rolex should not exclude me from consideration of employment, unless there is something in the job description.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by DARK_KNIGHT

The "wait until you can afford it" , theme keeps popping up in the thread.


People can inherit , be gifted or even find a "lost" watch.

My Casio - on a Blue Light Special sale or (my) Rolex should not exclude me from consideration of employment, unless there is something in the job description.

That’s a fair point.

But everything in life is a sale to some degree. Certainly in an interview we are selling ourselves.

And we are a finicky species. The interviewer might very well think the kid is a rich spoiled kid that doesn’t know what a work ethic is.

Maybe not tho. The interviewer might very well have gotten a sub as a graduation gift 10 years ago. And this might start a great convo.

One can never tell.

Personally, at 44 I’m just starting to feel comfortable wearing a Rolex when I see customers.

[droptopman]

Biases and heuristics play a big role in how people view others. I am in the middle on this. Personally I would wear a Rolex to an interview because I always wear a watch. But I am 50+. For someone younger I would guess it would depend on how they carry themselves, their confidence level, and the job/interviewer they are pursuing.