It happened to me, more times than I would like to remember. After many hours of searching, calling and reading resumes, I identify the perfect match. All the skills, experience and credentials are present. Finally I reach this perfect Candidate and a dialog ensues, during which it becomes apparent that he/she is either very tired or has the energy of a potato. Or the enthusiasm of one, or it’s empathy.

While it is obvious that my potato (sorry, Candidate) looks great on paper and he/she really wants this job, the little hairs in the back of my head are telling me ‘drop it’.

My pockets sing a different song: 30% of first year salary of $74,000.00…. $22,200.00 and I really really want to trade-up my car…

You know, if I could just coach, teach this Candidate about attitude, energy and enthusiasm!
Painful as it is, my sole option is to hope I caught him/her at a bad time and attempt the call again the next day. Unless a very different person answers the phone (OK, the same person but a different personality), I know we are both doomed.

Recurrent and consistent experience shows that once ‘bad attitude’ is confirmed, little can be done to change it, at least in the few days leading to the in-person interview. Sending out such Candidate will create a new, negative attitude of my Client towards me!