A young man just lost an opportunity of working with an organisation, not because he is not qualified, not because he didn’t perform well in the interview. He lost it because of a compliment on his interviewer. Leaving many to wonder how much damage can a compliment do during a job interview.
Take for instance you walked into the interview room and met a beautiful young lady waiting to conduct the interview, her beauty is so charming that you couldn’t let it slide without a compliment.
After the session, as you were making your leave, you dropped the compliment you’ve been holding, “you smell nice”, all hell was let loose, she saw it as a rude comment and thinks you’re not professional enough to get the job.
You’re back on the street again, job hunting. Is it right to compliment your interviewer or just keep it strictly professional?
Nigerians on Twitter are deeply engaged in hot debate this morning if it is appropriate for a job seeker to compliment an interviewer.
A Canada-based Nigerian identified as Taiwo (@taiwo__y), took to her Twitter page on Monday to tweet how she denied a young man a job with her organisation because he complimented her by saying
“You smell nice”.
She wrote:
“I interviewed a guy for a job yesterday, and when he was leaving he said to me ‘you smell nice’, and I told him that’s very rude of him. He left looking stupid.
A lot of men don’t have manners!!!”
Her tweet has been received with rage and vile reactions on Twitter by Nigerians who believe there is nothing wrong in what the young man has said, while experts have also given their opinion on the debate. The social media attacks have prompted the lady and her twin sister to lock their Twitter accounts from the public.
Amidst the hot debate which has divided many Twitter users, Career Development expert, Dr Dipo Awojide, took to his page to ask senior HR experts to give an informed perspective to the debate based on their years of experience in the private and public sector.
Former Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dr Joe Abah, in his contribution to the debate, said it is wrong to give such compliment during a job interview, he advised job seekers to always be professional during an interview.
He wrote:
“A job interview is a professional engagement. Don’t tell your interviewer “You smell nice.” There are rules around these things. If you don’t like it, set up your own company. But remember, even Mark Zuckerberg wears a sharp suit when he has a serious meeting with the government.
“Many people started doing PhDs & then spent all their time arguing with the school how they should run the programme. They either dropped out or were kicked out. If you want to be admitted into a select club, you play by the rules. If you don’t want to, go and form your own club.”
About the interviewer who posted the tweet that sparked up the debate, Dr Abah said:
“I guess she could have just ignored him or told him ‘In future, please remember that this is inappropriate’.”
The CEO of Saana Capital, A US-based investment company, Dr Aloy Chife in his response to Awojide’s question also said:
“No. That would certainly be considered unprofessional and a breach of propriety”
See other reactions:
But let’s be honest, it is sort of patronizing and unprofessional to tell a lady who is interviewing you that she smells nice.
Perhaps it is innocent in other climes. But in Nigeria? Leave that “compliment” till after you’ve landed the job. Then you focus on her perfume.
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) March 11, 2019
I would ommit that compliment completely from any work environment. Unless scents are part of your job.?
— Myexka (@retracetespas) March 12, 2019
???? I agree with him but if the person smells really nice and it’s a scent I am familiar with,manzz it will be hard oh but for first meeting I think it’s unprofessional for you to say your interviewer smells nice. It’s more like you trying to do eye service to me
— Fragrance Plug (Oreoluwa.O) (@Aurelovesstars) March 11, 2019
I feel Nigeria as a country has made our reasoning skewed?
What the hell is wrong in complimenting some one? Damn the scenario, it doesn’t matter.
Just the other day I told my very mean ED OPERATIONS that I loved her hair style, she seldom smiles, but she did on that day.— Al.Horezi (@al_horezi) March 12, 2019
The compliment must be in a professional way. Exclude the personality if you’re not that close.
E.g “I like your cologne”, “I like your suit” etc.
“You smell nice” is unprofessional, and might be seen offensive by some.
— Mowgli (@abdomos) March 12, 2019
