Weird....or not?

[RadioNate]

Well, after the many responses I received, and after sleeping on it, I decided to call the young lady this morning to "discuss her resume." I began the conversation with, I received your resume, reviewed it, and although I haven't had time to speak with Mr. ***** (again, it really isn't necessary, if I want to hire her, I can!), I would like to ask her a few questions. I started with one teeny tine gap in employment and asked her about that, and then....I dropped the bomb! I said, I just wondered if you were aware that your mother called our office yesterday morning inquiring as to the position and many other things........GUESS WHAT?! SHE KNEW! She said that she was "a little wary" about the "job offer" and wanted to make sure it was legit.

After I regained my composure (I was shocked to say the very least). I let her know that it was rather unorthodox for a potential employee's mother to call our office to inquire as to an opening. I also informed her that with a quick Google search, or Florida Bar search, she could have seen that our office is quite legit and the questions that her mother had asked me could have been answered. She said that her husband had already done that for her (Google search) and found that the company was real, and was comfortable with his findings, but she still didn't feel comfortable so she called her mom. I then told her that I still needed to speak to Mr. ***** and would get back with her.

So, there ya go. She knew. I STILL don't have a receptionist and I am not entirely sure what to say when I call her back. I know what I would like to say, but I am more professional than that!

I wish I lived near you too. I need a job & this is an area I'm very interested in AND my mom would never dream of calling!

That said I think the problem with this potential employee is that she couldn't check out the validity of the offer HERSELF. Her husband had did a google search for her and when she didn't believe him she went to her mother and had her research it. That is what strikes me as odd. She can't google and make a determination on her own. What happens when she needs basic info for a client? Is she going to have to ask you and then your research it and tell her what to say. What if she doesn't 'believe' you. Will she then consult the attorney?

 

[ENSOCK]

If you've been through some bad experiences with people recently, and she's a good fit for the job, why not give her a shot? All you have to do is advise her that her mother called the day she faxed her resume, explain that it is unprofessional and state that you don't want it happening again. I'd hate to pass up a chance on a really excellent employee for something they may not have had anything to do with.

This is what I think too. You could always let her go if the mother presents a problem. Good luck!

 

[Carly_Roach]

If it were me, the fact that she had other people doing her research for her instead of doing the leg-work herself would stop me from hiring her. It sounds like you are a busy person who doesn't have time to train. I hear ya! You need someone who can walk in, pick up the ball, take the initiative to learn how to dribble it, master the technique (on her own) and then start running defense for you when time crunches happen.

This gal ain't it.

You're probably more PC than I would be. I'd probably say to the girl precisely what I typed above.

 

[Allison]

Were you as honest with her as she was with you about misgivings associated with her asking her mother to call? Did you explain to her the type of inappropriate questions that her mother asked?

She is either a good candidate for the job or she isn't. Her mother has nothing to do with it. I would never make a hire decision based on that call. It wouldn't even enter my mind.

It would certainly enter my mind. If she needs her husband and mother to research potential employers for her, she isn't someone I would hire. To even remotely think it is appropriate for your mother to screen a potential employer for you by calling the company and asking questions you should ask yourself is a huge red flag.

 

[npmommie]

If it were me, the fact that she had other people doing her research for her instead of doing the leg-work herself would stop me from hiring her. It sounds like you are a busy person who doesn't have time to train. I hear ya! You need someone who can walk in, pick up the ball, take the initiative to learn how to dribble it, master the technique (on her own) and then start running defense for you when time crunches happen.

This gal ain't it.

You're probably more PC than I would be. I'd probably say to the girl precisely what I typed above.

It would certainly enter my mind. If she needs her husband and mother to research potential employers for her, she isn't someone I would hire. To even remotely think it is appropriate for your mother to screen a potential employer for you by calling the company and asking questions you should ask yourself is a huge red flag.

I second both of these.

I was torn about possibly giving her a chance, but having others do her leg work is a huge red flag to me.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Did you happen to duck to avoid the helicopter blades???

 

[ilovepcot]

Gee...how lucky can you get? Hire the girl and you get, not one, but *two* new employees. The girl AND her mother. I think the mother is going to be harder to train than the girl.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It would certainly enter my mind. If she needs her husband and mother to research potential employers for her, she isn't someone I would hire. To even remotely think it is appropriate for your mother to screen a potential employer for you by calling the company and asking questions you should ask yourself is a huge red flag.

That seems to be the case with many posters in this thread, but I have hired hundreds of employees over the years and disagree. I wouldn't let immaturity keep me from hiring someone that appeared to be a perfect candidate in every other regard - especially if the talent that I was looking for appeared to be unavailable in my area.

I look for red flags when I interview. For senior positions, this would be one. For this position, not so much.

JMO

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

She is either a good candidate for the job or she isn't. Her mother has nothing to do with it. I would never make a hire decision based on that call. It wouldn't even enter my mind.

Having a parent call a place of employment to inquire about a job that their child was offered can be a flag.

If mom is so involved in daughter's job offers what's to say she's not going to be the kind of parent to be nosy about the job once it's offered, visit often, call often, etc. If she's willing to raise a stink now, what's to say that she wouldn't stick her nose in later?

Heck, I lost a great job opportunity because my dad drove up with me to a bigger city. He had business there as well, and sat out in the lobby. The company didn't like that my "daddy" came with me and hired a girl that I knew had considerable less experience. It was for a position that was identical to the one I had in college (this place was their sister school). The girl they hired couldn't get hired at my college... all because my dad sat in the lobby because we planned to get lunch afterward cost me that job.

 

[Took]

If it were me, the fact that she had other people doing her research for her instead of doing the leg-work herself would stop me from hiring her. It sounds like you are a busy person who doesn't have time to train. I hear ya! You need someone who can walk in, pick up the ball, take the initiative to learn how to dribble it, master the technique (on her own) and then start running defense for you when time crunches happen.

This gal ain't it.

You're probably more PC than I would be. I'd probably say to the girl precisely what I typed above.

ITA! Her mom did the calling and her husband did the research!?? What is SHE capable of?

She's not what you're looking for. Immature....

 

[PrincessKsMom]

That seems to be the case with many posters in this thread, but I have hired hundreds of employees over the years and disagree. I wouldn't let immaturity keep me from hiring someone that appeared to be a perfect candidate in every other regard - especially if the talent that I was looking for appeared to be unavailable in my area.

I look for red flags when I interview. For senior positions, this would be one. For this position, not so much.

JMO

I have to disagree simply because she will be a receptionist. She will be the first person a prospective client speaks with. Her immaturity can make or break a new client's opinion of the firm. What happens if an existing, needy, demanding client calls and gets her flustered? Will she call mom and ask her what to do? What if everyone is out at a meeting and she's left to deal with an issue that comes up? Her judgment needs to be top-notch and, unfortunately, that's not something she is exhibiting at this point (i.e., asking mom to call for her). Unfortunately, I just don't see this girl being able to handle any situation that comes up without losing her composure and she's certainly not a self-starter or self-motivated.

 

[Tricia1972]

I look for red flags when I interview. For senior positions, this would be one. For this position, not so much.

JMO

From your standpoint this isn't a senior position. I completely understand that position in your situation when you're working with hundreds or thousands of employees. You can hire a receptionist and if she doesn't pan out, you get rid of her and hire another one. No biggie. There are lots of other people in the office to pick up the slack before you get rid of her. As she's struggling and faltering, the others in the office compensate for her.

In very professional office where there is a total of three positions (Two assistants and the attorney) all positions are key and are more in line with a senior position. When the OP takes vacation, it's all on the new girl. OP needs someone she can trust implicitly, and someone who is incapable of a Google search or trusting her own instincts may not be the best fit for the office. (after all the girl met the OP and her husband and should have gotten a vibe from that).

OP - The applicant sounds very dependent on her mother to make her decisions and do her groundwork for her. She would be much better off in life if she cuts those ties and lets go of the helicopter that she is still (obviously) clinging to.

I don't know if that would stop me from interviewing her. She may surprise you in the interview and you may have a chance to be a bit more candid about the expectations in your office. (Independent, free thinking, responsible, etc). However, her dependency on her mother WOULD definitely give me pause. Big pause.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Read the original post a little more closely - these parts jump out at me:

...Anyhow, last night, myself, DH and DD went to the local "mall" and we went in to Hollister... we were being helped by a young lady... she told DH (I stepped out, again, the music and the smell)...Well, DH, knowing that I was looking for some help, told her such and told her that although the money wasn't tops, it IS more than minimum wage. He gave her my work number and my attorney's name and told her she should call me...

I wonder, given the fact that your husband did most of the talking, and that you were not there when he discussed the "job offer", if this girl might have been wise to let her parents know about it. Given the circumstances, I even understand the mother's attitude a little more.

 

[Kathi OD]

The whole situation seems weird to me.

I think the girl was right in being a little nervous about this job. Who advises a retail clerk working at the mall, someone they don't know and have only talked to for a few moments, about a job at their spouse's place of business? Seriously, if it were me, I would never have followed up on it. I would have figured it was some kind of scam.

I also think it's a little strange that the mom called, BUT...let's say her gut was telling her something just wasn't right, given the way she found out about the position. Having another person call and check it out would be one way to help to either reinforce those suspicions or put them at rest.

As for her husband doing some research online, eh...no biggie in my book. She probably came home and told her husband what happened and he took it upon himself to check out the firm in an attempt to calm her uneasiness. However, the info on Google isn't 100% accurate. While there may still be links to the law firm, those links could be way out of date.

There are some crazy things that happen. I can just see the headlines.."clerk at Hollister found dead at the former law office location of Smith & Smith."

As a potential employer, I think I would at least give her the opportunity to interview for the position. Maybe give her a few tasks to do and see how she handles them. I'd make sure that she knows Momma running interference for her, if she is offered the position, would be a huge problem and grounds for dismissal.

 

[Tess]

lol, i'm sorry, OP, wow, i can't imagine such a thing. i wish i didn't live 4 hours from you. i'm a former legal secretary who quit to be a SAHM 11 years ago, and now i can't find a job to save my life.

Almost a ditto to the quoted post. I am a college grad, worked as a paralegal/assistant to a senior partner in a mid-sized firm, and quit to stay at home with my children. I have looked for years for a position and have only had two interviews and they weren't even in the legal field.

Of course, no one admits it, but I feel it is a simple case of age discrimination. I began looking when I was around 45 and I'm 52 now.

 

[Carnie]

I bet if you hire her, her mother will call the office CONSTANTLY. And I am sure that if mom isn't calling her at the moment, she will be calling home to talk to mama.

Thanks but no thanks.

 

[RitaZ.]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the girl became nervous about calling. She is new to the area, maybe her DH is deployed, perhaps she wasn't sure if it was a "real" job opportunity or if Ted Bundy just gave her his number.

Just trying to add another perspective.

I agree with this.

If the girl made such a good impression on you and your husband, give her a chance to interview. She may turn out to be an excellent employee.

 

[elainesj]

I would give her a chance. This sounds like new ground for her and her mopmma probably told her that letting momma call was the most appropriate thing to do. With little experience, naturally she would rely on momma's advice. If she's new to the workforce, she may have a hard time knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate, particularly in the unique position she found herself in.

You obviously found her very professional in her dealings when you were in the store. Once she knows and understands the parameters in your office, she would likely behave just as professionally.

(I would make it clear to her in the interview that Momma calling and doing the 3rd degree wasn't acceptable - if she needed more information, she should have called and ask herself). That said, she sounds young and maybe doesn't have full confidence in her insticts yet and this could well be a valuable learnig experience for her.

BTW, I got hire for my present job after I was rearended. My boss found out during our chat after the accident that I had the qualifications. She then mentioned she was looking and I should send in my resume. TBH, I didn't think she was hugely serious but I went through the process and was eventually hired.

E

 

[Music City Mama]

From your standpoint this isn't a senior position. I completely understand that position in your situation when you're working with hundreds or thousands of employees. You can hire a receptionist and if she doesn't pan out, you get rid of her and hire another one. No biggie. There are lots of other people in the office to pick up the slack before you get rid of her. As she's struggling and faltering, the others in the office compensate for her.

In very professional office where there is a total of three positions (Two assistants and the attorney) all positions are key and are more in line with a senior position. When the OP takes vacation, it's all on the new girl. OP needs someone she can trust implicitly, and someone who is incapable of a Google search or trusting her own instincts may not be the best fit for the office. (after all the girl met the OP and her husband and should have gotten a vibe from that).

OP - The applicant sounds very dependent on her mother to make her decisions and do her groundwork for her. She would be much better off in life if she cuts those ties and lets go of the helicopter that she is still (obviously) clinging to.

I don't know if that would stop me from interviewing her. She may surprise you in the interview and you may have a chance to be a bit more candid about the expectations in your office. (Independent, free thinking, responsible, etc). However, her dependency on her mother WOULD definitely give me pause. Big pause.

Absolutely! For someone in that position at a law office, they need to be independent thinkers with a certain level of maturity. If she couldn't do her own research (i.e., "googling"), she's not the appropriate person for that position (not to say her mother or husband couldn't have googled, as well, but her mother calling?!?!). Go with your gut.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if I owe her the courtesy of a call back to explain the reason for not hiring her is her mother?

I'm glad you did tell her, even if the answer is different from what I was expecting. Having spent a week with my aunt and cousin during this vacation, where my aunt is involved in EVERY aspect of my cousin's life where she's pretty much running things more than my cousin and her husband are, and how absolutely useless it is to tell the aunt to back off...I could have easily seen the mom as being like my aunt. I feel so bad for my cousin...

........GUESS WHAT?! SHE KNEW! She said that she was "a little wary" about the "job offer" and wanted to make sure it was legit.

That said I think the problem with this potential employee is that she couldn't check out the validity of the offer HERSELF. Her husband had did a google search for her and when she didn't believe him she went to her mother and had her research it. That is what strikes me as odd. She can't google and make a determination on her own.

That jumped out at me too.

Not to mention....if she felt nervous about the job being legit, SHE could have still called! It's like having her mom call made her feel better? But she could have just called and gotten the same answers. If she's not willing to do that, how is she going to work well as a receptionist?

This is a joke, a joke only, but she might very well be a fabulous lawyer once she gets through law school and the first few years. My sis in law is a trademark attorney, and just as soon as she got the plush job, she stopped researching things on her own, and passes it all off to her "people". Sure she worked her tushie off through law school, but once she had those people to do it for her, she ran with it.

So this woman might do very well, once she becomes an attorney herself!

I wonder, given the fact that your husband did most of the talking, and that you were not there when he discussed the "job offer", if this girl might have been wise to let her parents know about it. Given the circumstances, I even understand the mother's attitude a little more.

Ha, it's a bit ironic, maybe? She finds out about the job through the office's employee's spouse, but her mom isn't supposed to call about the job? Maybe I'd cut her just a bit of slack b/c of that...