Odd comment during recent interview....whats your take?

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Originally Posted by rob_s

What sort of job was this for?

I have come across more than a few vets looking for work in the civilian sector that seem surprised that their service isn't seen as more of an asset. I'm not sure if the military is mis-representing things to new recruits and those about to be discharged or what, but IME with bosses and hiring folks they may pay lip service to caring about military service at most and dismiss it after that. If it's someone completely ignorant of military people and recent discharges they start thinking about media reports of PTSD, possible re-activation taking away their new hire, etc.

Not saying I agree with their attitude, just saying that it seems like someone is giving people a false impression of their perceived "worth".

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The job listing said expressly about being a vet being a bonus to getting hired, and they deal with some military sales. So Id think being a vet has something to do with the job but I guess not.


Obviously a persons MOS will have more to do with getting hired than simply being a vet. Thats why I chose the MOS I did because it has direct relations to civilian sector jobs, and my resume is tailored to that not just being former mil in general with no specific experience, education and training.


At any rate even if being mil isn't a bonus to getting a particular job would you tell someone you were interviewing you weren't interested in seeing their military records because 'everyone has the same crap'? If you don't think its important to the job then thats fine...just don't be rude and disparaging about it. As much you are interviewing the job seeker they are interviewing you if its a job and company they want to work for. Even if this place had offered me a job Id likely have turned it down since that particular person isn't someone Id want to work with on a daily basis. Life is too short...

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Originally Posted by Belmont31R

Got interviewed by a guy who said he was in the Navy so a vet also...I had a binder with my military records, education, blah blah blah. He saw I had my awards and such from across the table but never looked at them, and said, "Everyone who's been in the military has the same crap." Never met the guy before, this was maybe 2 minutes into the interview, and at this point he doesn't know much about me. Not saying I really do have anything special as far as awards or anything but he doesn't know me from anyone else. There are a lot of people out there with higher awards, purple hearts, not everyone has deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (Iraq only for me X2)....my last 1SG I had never deployed when he took over my company in 2007. So, no, not everyone has the 'same crap', and even though I didn't do anything special compared to what other recent Iraq/Afghan vets have earned that comment still rubbed me the wrong way. Obviously still bugging me 2 weeks later...I guess I should just take everything I earned and throw it in the trash if everyone has the same shit right? :D


Didn't go to well otherwise. Everything I said he shot down in some way. He asked if I handle stress well, and I half jokingly said I've got twin 4 year old boys at home. He then went on a minute long lecture about how that wasn't stressful. Oh ok I guess its not....:(


Guess its a good thing I never heard back from them...:cool:

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No doubt the miserable **** sleeps soundly at night though without giving any thought whats so ever to the people who have sworn to give their lives to protect his and his way of life. That guy should seriously go and die in a fire.

It would bother me too.

I think you should mail him a "gift" for conducting the interview:

http://www.theunticket.com/wp-conten...nal_douche.jpg

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Originally Posted by Belmont31R

The job listing said expressly about being a vet being a bonus to getting hired, and they deal with some military sales. So Id think being a vet has something to do with the job but I guess not.


Obviously a persons MOS will have more to do with getting hired than simply being a vet. Thats why I chose the MOS I did because it has direct relations to civilian sector jobs, and my resume is tailored to that not just being former mil in general with no specific experience, education and training.


At any rate even if being mil isn't a bonus to getting a particular job would you tell someone you were interviewing you weren't interested in seeing their military records because 'everyone has the same crap'? If you don't think its important to the job then thats fine...just don't be rude and disparaging about it. As much you are interviewing the job seeker they are interviewing you if its a job and company they want to work for. Even if this place had offered me a job Id likely have turned it down since that particular person isn't someone Id want to work with on a daily basis. Life is too short...

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I don't want to become the target because I'm convenient and he's not. I'm not supporting, or defending, the guy's actions, and I wasn't there, so I can't comment on what happened, how it was said, etc.

Many employers got sick of having to chase employees during the good times, and now feel like it's their chance to get even.

I was simply relaying that his attitude, whether or not overtly expressed, is more common than many vets seem to realize. Personally I'd rather know about it than not if I were in your shoes, because I'd hate to take a job and find I'm being blocked for promotion, given the crappy shifts, etc. because of some vendetta the guy had. Or even worse, take the job and miss out on an opportunity that actually was a good fit because I stopped looking.

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Originally Posted by rob_s

I don't want to become the target because I'm convenient and he's not. I'm not supporting, or defending, the guy's actions, and I wasn't there, so I can't comment on what happened, how it was said, etc.

Many employers got sick of having to chase employees during the good times, and now feel like it's their chance to get even.

I was simply relaying that his attitude, whether or not overtly expressed, is more common than many vets seem to realize. Personally I'd rather know about it than not if I were in your shoes, because I'd hate to take a job and find I'm being blocked for promotion, given the crappy shifts, etc. because of some vendetta the guy had. Or even worse, take the job and miss out on an opportunity that actually was a good fit because I stopped looking.

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Sure...there are people who dislike the military and others who don't necessarily dislike the military but have envy over having never served themselves. That can apply to other things, too, such as where a person got their degree from, GPA, honors, a persons physical appearance, age, whatever. As much as being a vet can hurt you with the wrong person it opens a lot of doors not available to non-vets just like any other attribute a person has.

You'll never really know.

Put it in the rearview mirror.

Just a shot in the dark... How did you respond to his questions and did you respond to his antagonistic approach in any way? Did you respond to his objections or try to convince him to see your perspective on what was being discussed? Did you sell him on the fact that your records are different than everyone else's and he needs to see them?

He may have actually been presenting you with common questions, objections and comments that are related to the sales position you were being interviewed for and he wanted to see how you would handle them. Did you choke or become visibly flustered? Did you respond intelligently? Did you lose your cool or become agitated?

He might've been testing you to see if you could hack it in the position that you were interviewing for... In my current profession I went through a similar "hostile interview" prior to being hired and believe me I had to choke down a few choice words for the interviewer while clinching my fists under the desk. Sometimes the employer's motivation for a specific interviewing approach definitely has merit. And sometimes they're just dicks.

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Originally Posted by Irish

Just a shot in the dark... How did you respond to his questions and did you respond to his antagonistic approach in any way? Did you respond to his objections or try to convince him to see your perspective on what was being discussed? Did you sell him on the fact that your records are different than everyone else's and he needs to see them?

He may have actually been presenting you with common questions, objections and comments that are related to the sales position you were being interviewed for and he wanted to see how you would handle them. Did you choke or become visibly flustered? Did you respond intelligently? Did you lose your cool or become agitated?

He might've been testing you to see if you could hack it in the position that you were interviewing for... In my current profession I went through a similar "hostile interview" prior to being hired and believe me I had to choke down a few choice words for the interviewer while clinching my fists under the desk. Sometimes the employer's motivation for a specific interviewing approach definitely has merit. And sometimes they're just dicks.

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Not a sales job. I wouldn't have any contact with customers.


I can see your point though. I don't think that was what happened.

chip on the shoulder ?

I would say look at a interview both ways a chance to see if you want to work for the company and if they want you to work for them ? its a two way road

is this guy just a HR guy ? and would he be above you in anyway ?

is he even liked in the company ? not something you would know until you get in I guess ?

I would decide if I did not want the job I would write a letter to a higher up in the company and say look I wanted you guys to be aware that military was a good thing to have and to bring in but when the interviewer mocks my military record and calls it the same old crap ! thats not conductive to a good workplace and not sure if thats what your intentions are just thought you should know this !

you never know the uppers might not know what this jerk is doing ?

either way best of luck in the hunt for a job ;) and might be a test he was putting you through ? but sounds like a chip on the shoulder prick who most likely does not move up the ladder of life but likes to try to kick those he feels are below him cause it makes him feel better ?

You weren't being interviewed by John Kerry by chance? ;)

IMO, you'd have nothing but problems with this guy if that's his attitude and you had to report to him, especially if he's he owner. If he's just an HR admin, then someone hired him and showed poor judgment. F' him, there are other (better) jobs out there.