People asking me for work.

killanena

So I work in retail, worked my way up the chain to management. I've been involved in interviews in the past but this will be the first time where its my job to call people for interviews and will be deciding who are the successful candidates.

Im quite young (25) and know a lot of people in my age group from nights out, school, etc. Sense we started advertising the positions I have been flooded with facebook messages and even people I know personally calling into the site looking to speak with me.

I'm finding the situation fairly stressful as I don't want to hire someone just because I know them but I also don't want any conflict with some of these people as I would consider some friends.

I have always kept my social life and work completely separate. Some of these people would have know me in my teens and early 20's when I was a lot more wild. Drink, drugs, etc etc. I have cop myself on an awful lot the last 3/4 years as I now have a 3 year old and would now only go out for a few social drinks every so often.

I don't want my colleagues at work knowing about my past as a lot of them are older and I fear I would be judged or not taken so seriously anymore. And also want to give every applicant a fair chance and choose who I judge to be the best to fill these positions. A lot is expected of our staff, more so then a lot of other retail staff I feel. So its very important to get people willing to do the work and not just quit within the first month, Costing the company in training as well as putting strain on current staff having to cover these shifts.


Anyone else evey been in a similar position to myself that could share their experiences?

OMM 0000

Don't hire your friends unless you know with 100% certainty they are reliable and honest.

I made the mistake of hiring a friend once, for a good job, and she decided to repay me by regularly being on drugs in the office. It was a nightmare and it ended our friendship.

listermint

Stop telling people your in charge of hiring for one


Tell them drop an application in and it will be reviewed by management.

robarmstrong

OMM 0000 puts it perfectly.

Tell them to apply directly, their CV will be reviewed etc, but for your own sake, check out their references. I love my friends, they're great people, but I'd hire a very select few.

I've been in your boat in regards to being a younger person in a managerial position but at the end of the day, if you can do the job properly it shouldn't matter what age you are, your friends coming in (if they do) and mentioning things about your past is exactly that - it's your past, end of. It has never (I hope) and will never (again, I hope) have any bearing on your professional life.

Best of luck.

Thoie

Any time I've been interviewing, and a name I know crops up in the list, I let my manager know that this person is known to me, and ask if there's a "conflict of interests" process. Explain that you would hope to be fair and equal with all candidates, and ask how she'd like to proceed.

Ideal scenario is that someone else interviews your "friends" instead of you, but that's not always feasible. Definitely have a chat with your manager or HR about it and get their feedback.

Even if they can't find someone else to carry out specific interviews, they may be able to give you some tips around asking the same questions of all candidates, and how to remain impartial.

killanena

Thank you all for the responses.

Thankfully after expressing my concerns to my area manager, he has arranged a recruitment agency to interview candidates on my behalf.

I could still end up with someone I know working under me but at least it will be fair and non biased.

listermint wrote:

Stop telling people your in charge of hiring for one

I never told a soul but people assume that the manager gets last call. Telling then otherwise falls on broken ears.

robarmstrong wrote:

I've been in your boat in regards to being a younger person in a managerial position but at the end of the day, if you can do the job properly it shouldn't matter what age you are, your friends coming in (if they do) and mentioning things about your past is exactly that - it's your past, end of. It has never (I hope) and will never (again, I hope) have any bearing on your professional life.

Thank you. I guess if it ever does happen to come up I will state that the pass was the pass very seriously.

Mrs OBumble

Are you in the public sector? If not then there is no requirement to be fair, apart from not discriminating on the nine special grounds.

And handing over decision making to someone else is an error. You need to make sure that anyone you don't want to work with isn't hired.

Wildly Boaring

killanena wrote: »

I could still end up with someone I know working under me but at least it will be fair and non biased.

Hired is not an unbiased process.
You cannot discriminate on certain specific grounds.

You can and must have a hand in hiring those who will work for you.

By all means use the agency but get them to propose 2 or 3 per position and vet the final choice.

Take the advice as above re having friends work for you

peterofthebr

if you know the person being interviewed then there is a conflict of interest. in a larger company, the interview can send in their CV into HR but I would not be involved in the interview (as im biased etc...)