The Cappuccino Close

I was interviewing sales people for the role of Recruitment Consultant. Many had applied; I had short listed and invited six of the best candidates along for a face to face interview. I set out the criteria with them, part of which was a 10 minute presentation to my team; as I hoped they would be a significant contributor, it was important the present team had a say in the outcome to. Any new incumbent would need help

The second candidate to arrive was introduced with what seemed to be a snigger from the receptionist, He entered the room, we introduced ourselves and sat down to discuss his prospective employment.

He was smartly dressed, shiny shoes, pinstripe suit, plenty of enthusiasm for the job. What impressed me the most was the depth to which he had researched my company. He knew who the directors were, how many offices we had, even the scope of our services to our customers. The one thing that puzzled me was the shape of his moustache. He was light haired and the moustache was a brownish sort of cokour, thicker in one part than another

Like a moth to a candle flame my eyes were drawn to the misshaped line across his top lip. He engaged me very well, but he was becoming aware of my flickering looks towards his lip. I would become engrossed in our conversation, then disengage to see if it had moved or changed shape.. At this point his looks changed from being puzzled to a slight annoyance of my seeming lack of interest. One of us would have to say something…….

Towards the end of the career history section, I had decided to get this out in the open…I saw my chance

“Thank you for very detailed history, I understand some of comments you made about companies within this area, I know some companies who in the past didn’t allow any facial hair”..

It was the best I could do, the opportunity was now his to grasp.

“I know he replied, good job I don’t have any then”
He replied as if playing along with a mildly eccentric relative
I went for it…
“If that is the case how come you have a moustache now?”

For brief second, his eyes showed the embarrassment I had inflicted, he was deciding whether I was being malicious or well intended he raised his hand to his top lip and felt…..

“Cappuccino” he muttered.” Cappuccino”..

He explained he had spent a hour in a coffee shop preparing for the interview and had two cups of chocolate topped cappuccino, realised the time a rushed to meet with me forgetting to wipe the stain from his top lip.

He excused himself from our meeting with hankerchief over his mouth just as a colleague came to the door; she looked at me and asked “Did you punch him?

Returning confidently, we went through the finer points on his CV, He gave a brilliant presentation to the team and I offered him the job He went on to become a top biller in the company with the nickname of “Cappa”

The lesson to take from this is to plan and research the company you have an interview with. This chap could have capitulated but he was confident in what he had to say and wanted to show me he knew his stuff.

The second lesson is always use a napkin when drinking cappuccino.