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Too Much Emotional Support
I am at a loss. We recently had a job candidate come in to give a presentation as part of the interview process and bring family members with them — their spouse and several children. This included a 1-year-old who the candidate carried around and interacted with, repeatedly interrupting their own presentation. The candidate also kicked off their shoes and walked around barefoot during the presentation. No one from H.R. was at the presentation (not unusual), but I did mention it to H.R. staff after the fact. The H.R. representative said that it is a generational difference and many candidates are showing up at interviews with parents, spouses, children or other family members in tow. This does not seem professional to me. Have I lost my mind? Does H.R. need to make a “no-family policy” for interviews?
— Anonymous
I’m at a loss as well. A spouse? Several children? Including a baby!
Full disclosure: I can’t tell if I picked this question to answer because it’s so amazingly bananas or because I want to try to figure out if this may, indeed, be a “thing.”
So let’s back up. No, you have not lost your mind. A job candidate’s bringing family members to an interview or presentation does not seem professional to you because in most cases it probably isn’t. And don’t get me started on the shoes.
I can’t think of many reasons that family members would accompany a job candidate to an interview. Frazzled nerves are not enough; emotional support can be offered elsewhere. (Beforehand, of course.) Children can stay with a babysitter or, in this case, be looked after by a spouse.
I can really think of only two situations in which a job applicant’s being accompanied by a family member or spouse makes sense. One: The candidate has mobility issues and needs assistance. Two: The candidate has other disabilities and needs assistance with communicating.
If family members must come along to an interview, this should be signaled by the candidate in advance and a request for accommodations made.