If an interviewee used this phrase.....

[Rasta Pickles]

...."polishing a turd" during an interview, would it colour your judgement about their suitability?

 

[billybob99]

No.

Need more context.

 

[Mr D]

No.
There are a few instances it would be appropriate. And some where it would not be appropriate.

However unless I'm looking for someone to do a movie with making their own lines up I don't see how a phrase used in interview would indicate suitability for a job.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Yeh they prepared really hard to land this job

In my view they would be a waste of space . They sound well over confident and if this is the best way they can present themselves for a job interview then they would be demonstating even lower standards to your customers if you employed them

Tell them to jog on !

 

[Graham Tyers]

It would depend on the rest of the conversation.

I quite like people who don't over filter. They're far less likely to be the psycho types in my experience.

 

[itsnathanhere]

Depends on the workplace. If you work in a sewage treatment plant then that's going above and beyond!

 

[RobinBHM]

If the phrase was used in reference to the interviewer it might give pause for thought

 

[Graham Tyers]

If the phrase was used in reference to the interviewer it might give pause for thought

Also if it was used as a forehead tattoo

 

[Emu]

Personally I think the whole wear a tie and turn up saying yes sir no sir while arriving to the interview 20 min early is a bit to 19-hundreds, if they show some personality and character Id empoy them.

I usually read the interests and hobbies parts of a CV 1st

 

[Mr D]

Personally I think the whole wear a tie and turn up saying yes sir no sir while arriving to the interview 20 min early is a bit to 19-hundreds, if they show some personality and character Id empoy them.

I usually read the interests and hobbies parts of a CV 1st

The 20 minutes early bit is pretty common - means when running late due to traffic then may still start the interview on time. Some places do some admin in the 20 minutes too - such as photocopying birth cert, qualifications etc.

As an interviewer I hated starting an interview late, knock on effect can last for hours causing everyone else to start late.

 

[The Byre]

If an interviewee avoids using the F-word even after I've used it several times, I know that they will have difficulties fitting in with the rest of the crowd.

As for turd-polishing, that's what we do. We are high-tech turd polishers.

As for turning up early and wearing a collar and tie - why not, if they want to be laughed at!

There is no point schlepping your various bits of paperwork with you here - nobody will want to see them, let alone photocopy rubbish like that!

 

[Emu]

The 20 minutes early bit is pretty common - means when running late due to traffic then may still start the interview on time. Some places do some admin in the 20 minutes too - such as photocopying birth cert, qualifications etc.

As an interviewer I hated starting an interview late, knock on effect can last for hours causing everyone else to start late.

Everyone has their own preferences for sure, I would hang about outside a place if I was that early. If I arrange a meeting at 3pm and there is someone bothering me 20 min before it gets on my nerves

 

[JpeeL]

Could go either way, the sound pretty confident which is something I would welcome. However it’s also still a cliche and I’d wonder if they are one of them ‘management speaker’ types ‘thinking outside the circle and square’ etc.

These types are usually good at saying stuff without actually saying anything at all.

 

[estwig]

Depends, did you give the correct response........

No you can't, but you can roll it in glitter.

 

[28one - DC]

if it is a sales job - then absolutely not suitable. If they cant amend their language to suit their target audience then its not worth it. Simply put during an interview you are not down the pub with a mate. We all know what that idiom means, but they should have tried to find a better way to express themselves. If it is a role where they arent customer facing then it shouldnt entirely cloud your judgment so without knowing the role, etc its hard to tell.

 

[WaveJumper]

I remember traveling a very long way for an interview many moons ago, very large well known company too, kept me waiting a very long time before finally inviting me into the office.

Rounding up the interview they asked if with gave you fifty pounds right now to spend what would you buy.............

A long pause ......... A wall clock I said and give you some change
A wall clock they replied why?
I would stick it on your wall so you'd know what the bloody time was

(Sorry probably a bit off topic)

 

[Rasta Pickles]

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated.

The "polishing a turd" reference came about as a result of being asked about reports the guy was being asked to maintain / update in his current role and he stated that they weren't fit for purpose and that the reason he was looking to leave was because he felt all he was doing was "polishing a turd".

 

[UKSBD]

My 1st thought after reading that would be, what's he going to be saying about you (or your company) behind your back?

 

[Mark T Jones]

So, beyond that one comment, how good a fit was he for the job?

 

[kkfcXHzmCc]

Ah interviews. How I don't miss them. This 19th century manner etc. that is expected and as soon as they start everyone, including you, acts differently.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

So, beyond that one comment, how good a fit was he for the job?

He was spot on and can come and work for you

 

[simon field]

It's a good, solid phrase that everyone uses and I like it.

 

[IanG]

I've no objection to the use of the phrase but in context it doesn't really answer the question.

So you asked about his current role and what he's doing and he wanted to say that he didn't find the work worthwhile, or he didn't feel that he was adding value to the reports, or something else detailed about how he didn't feel like his efforts were fruitful, but instead used a rather vague and borderline inappropriate analogy which for me doesn't fit the explanation?

I'd be more worried that he couldn't articulate the problems in his current role. Or didn't understand the exact issue. Or didn't want to tell you.

I'd have probably told him that doesn't answer the question and asked for more. If you didn't then you've missed the trick, not him. The interview is only as good as the questions.

 

[Ecomccountant]

The only thing i look for is enthusiasm really

 

[Owesdr]

I think that focus of an interview should be on skills of potential employee and how he or she can contribute to the company. We all know that job interviews might be stressful situation for some people, so it might be that he was just a little bit under stress