A job seeker in Singapore has been left in shock after the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) allegedly assaulted him during an interview. A candidate looking for an opportunity in the sales department said the process started smoothly, with the interviewer even describing him as a “fit for the company.”
According to a report by The Independent Singapore, the man said the interview consisted of three rounds, two of which went well.
According to him, the hiring manager also applauded his CV and called it a “fit for the company”, giving him confidence that things were moving in the right direction.
However, the situation changed at the final stage, which was a telephone interview with the CEO of the company.
What went wrong?
The job seeker claimed it went downhill when the CEO asked about sales targets. In response, the candidate asked about a typical product sales cycle and explained that this would help him offer a realistic estimate. However, the CEO reacted sharply.
“I don’t need you to start making excuses. I asked you for a number, give me the numbers,” the CEO reportedly said, adding that he could already tell the candidate was “full of bullshit.”
The job seeker said he tried to explain that he was seeking clarity so he could remain transparent rather than making unrealistic promises. “Sir, if I were working for you, I would want to be honest with you. I don’t want to overpromise. You will get full transparency from me,” he said.
But the CEO reportedly interrupted him and the exchange quickly escalated. “Stop the bullshit! Just give me the numbers. How hard is it? If you’re not sure, get out! I don’t need people like you. People like you will never succeed. Stay poor!” the CEO allegedly told him.
At that point, the job seeker said he decided to end the conversation. Instead of continuing the argument, he told the CEO that he was no longer interested in the role.
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“Then I don’t want to work with you. I feel like you are a bad boss. I love myself too much to work with you. Thank you and goodbye,” he said before ending the call.
The report also shared expert advice on how candidates can handle such situations during interviews.
The report also provided some expert tips on how candidates can handle such situations during interviews.
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Collect your thoughts: Experts say that if the interviewer makes an offensive or intrusive remark, one should take a moment to compose oneself. Candidates may take a moment to respond if the question is inappropriate or too private. It is okay to tell the interviewer that he needs a moment to answer, or to say nothing until he feels ready to answer.
Change the theme: If you don’t have an immediate answer and the interviewer is getting impatient, you can try to steer the discussion in a different direction. Experts advise asking questions about the company, role or team. Candidates can also ask nicely that they will not answer a question or respond to a comment because it is not related to job performance.
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Always be prepared: Experts also emphasize preparation. Applicants should ask themselves the possible questions that may arise and also point out the dark areas in their resumes that need to be clarified with a lot of light whenever they appear. While doing so, they should remain polite and professional throughout the interview.
