bothered by something silly

LegacyUser

Hi,

I have been working in HR for a while and a few months ago I was promoted so I now get to sit on the panel when we are interviewing. This week I got to take the lead in an interview for a minor temping role.

Straight away I got a strange vibe from the man I was interviewing and some very odd answers to my questions. At the end of the interview I asked if he had any questions for me regarding the role, he said yes and pulled out his camera phone and took a photo of me!!!

I asked him why did he do that and he replied that he was just getting a photo the people who where interviewing him for "His Records" as he had a good few lined up!!!

My problem is I don't want some odd ball having a photo of me, its creeping me out. I did say it to the ceo of the company but she said just forget about it. Is there anything I can do?

futonic

simple, dont hire him. If he behaves like that in an interview, imagine what he'll be like in work. Freaky

Zen65

hr-horror wrote: »

Hi,

My problem is I don't want some odd ball having a photo of me, its creeping me out. I did say it to the ceo of the company but she said just forget about it. Is there anything I can do?

The CEO is correct. There is no way now to remove that photo from him, and it would be a fool's errand to try. If it's any comfort remember that your photo can be taken by anybody that sees you on the street, in a bar, in a park, or.... anywhere. There is no significance to it, unless you are on a witness protection/relocation programme. In the normal course of events you will have no idea that your photo has been taken.

Just because you know about this one does not give it any special significance, so do not spend any more time thinking about it.

Certainly the guy showed exceptionally poor judgement by taking the photo in that manner and you would be making a mistake to hire him...... but you don't need me to tell you that, as you are a HR professional.

Interviews can lead to strange behaviours by people; whether it's crying, shouting or banging the table. After you've done a few hundred you learn not to be phased by what people do or say in an interview.


Be at peace,

Z

FoxT

I don't think there is much you can do about this. However, do make a note of the date/location, who was there, & name & contact details of the interviewee, JIC.

How did your colleagues on the panel feel about it?

SparkyTech

hr-horror wrote: »

Hi,

I have been working in HR for a while and a few months ago I was promoted so I now get to sit on the panel when we are interviewing. This week I got to take the lead in an interview for a minor temping role.

Straight away I got a strange vibe from the man I was interviewing and some very odd answers to my questions. At the end of the interview I asked if he had any questions for me regarding the role, he said yes and pulled out his camera phone and took a photo of me!!!

I asked him why did he do that and he replied that he was just getting a photo the people who where interviewing him for "His Records" as he had a good few lined up!!!

My problem is I don't want some odd ball having a photo of me, its creeping me out. I did say it to the ceo of the company but she said just forget about it. Is there anything I can do?

That sounds rather creepy and odd, however when dealing with the general public one should expect the unexpected! I certainly wouldn't hire the bloke, very poor judgement on his part. Have a discussion with the other members of the panel and see how they feel about it. No harm to make a note of it for your own records.

iceman777

So, you are interviewing this candidate in your place of work and he photographs you?

I'd be really mad at this. Fristly, he should not be allowed to do this in a private place, which I assume you are in.

In my workplace, no photos of any kind are allowed.

If I were you, I would never offer him the job and I would be telling the CEO to follow-up and get that photograph deleted.

This is unacceptable behaviour in my opinion.

r3nu4l

You cannot complain about a photo taken in a public place but this photo was taken on private property and without permission.

You should have demanded that he delete the photo straight away and show you evidence that it had been deleted.

Did he take a photo of anyone else on the interview panel or just you?

Funfair

Whats the big deal, I presume you had a suit on and looked resonable well being you were doing interviews...

He took your photo and your getting uptight about it? You did say he took the photo after the interview correct? This I presume was after you went through this guy's life with a fine comb and asked him awkward/trick and personal questions right?

I know taking the picture is a bit daft on his part but I think the guy has more to be worried about then you have, being you know every detail about him and all he has is a damm photo and no job

Kimia

Funfair wrote: »

Whats the big deal, I presume you had a suit on and looked resonable well being you were doing interviews...

He took your photo and your getting uptight about it? You did say he took the photo after the interview correct? This I presume was after you went through this guy's life with a fine comb and asked him awkward/trick and personal questions right?

I know taking the picture is a bit daft on his part but I think the guy has more to be worried about then you have, being you know every detail about him and all he has is a damm photo and no job

Why are you sticking up for the very inappropriate man?

Of course he has no job he behaved like a nutball. OP - as others have said, there isn't really a lot you can do now that he's back in the wild, but I would try not to let it bother you. He's just a weirdo.

Funfair

Kimia wrote: »

Why are you sticking up for the very inappropriate man?

Of course he has no job he behaved like a nutball. OP - as others have said, there isn't really a lot you can do now that he's back in the wild, but I would try not to let it bother you. He's just a weirdo.

I’m sticking up for nobody; I’m just curious why people in HR departments believe they are in some kind of a higher order in the human race. Reading some of the comments I think this phenomenal seems to be wide spread on boards.ie. Some “weirdo” takes your photo and is now gone back to the wild?

whatsamsn

Taking a photo of you? For his "records" ?
.... That is just weird.

Just dont hire him. Say he wasnt suitable for the job, references didnt check out etc etc (plenty of reasons why a person doesnt get a job)
As futonic said, if he did something as odd as that in an interview imagine what he'll do in the job.

Kimia

Funfair wrote: »

I’m sticking up for nobody; I’m just curious why people in HR departments believe they are in some kind of a higher order in the human race. Reading some of the comments I think this phenomenal seems to be wide spread on boards.ie. Some “weirdo” takes your photo and is now gone back to the wild?

Sounds like you're the one with a bee in his bonnet about HR departments really.

curlzy

Hey OP,

I got my degree in Photography this year, studied media and privacy laws and it is true that if the interview was on private property you could have insisted he delete it. Not much good to you now though:( Anyway I'd say he did it to get under your skin because he probably sensed you knew he was nutjob. Just for pure curiosity what were the weird answers he gave? Forget about it anyway don't let him win by worrying about it and just take pleasure in the fact that you have a job and he doesn't and won't anytime soon if that's how he goes on.

Funfair

Kimia wrote: »

Sounds like you're the one with a bee in his bonnet about HR departments really.

I'm just playing Devil's advocate and have no reason to have a gripe with HR deparments as I never had the pleasure of being in one