Category: Jobs and Employment
Hello all!
I'm curious of your thoughts. Do guide dogs help or hinder a job interview? I would love any replies as to job interviews you have taken your dogs to. Or, if you rather take a cane instead.
Like anything, I think it'll depend on the person, both the interviewee and the interviewer. But having gone through a job interview with a dog, here are my thinks.
* Lots of people like dogs. It's a good social ice breaker, and a nice way to break some of the awkward tention.
* If it's a group setting, you may get all sorts of compliments and conversation started around the dog. good way to relax you and potentially show a peaking employer that yes, you do have social skills.
* In my opinion, if you have to follow the interviewer somewhere, there's no stress about poking a stick between their feet, hitting things with the stick, or what have you. With the dog, you can more easily just follow alongside or behind the person. Plus, if the dog messes up, it can be easier to laugh it off and blame the silly dog for whatever happened.
* Getting a dog situated and still can be more of a challenge than simply folding up a cane, especially if you're in a dress and heels.
Agreed with Cala on this one. The only two interviews I have been on with the dog have gone generally smoother than those with a cane, except if she decides that she wants to scrounge on the floor - thankfully that hasn't happened during an interview. For my new job starting next week, Jenny was asleep during the first 1/2 of the interview, but the door opened and it startled her awake. She let out a loud "Woof!" and one of the interviewers, without missing a beat, said "Well, lots of us react that way to John when he walks into a room." I almost killed myself laughing.
It also gave the interviewer a chance to see how I keep control of her if she misbehaves, which shows that, while the dog may not be perfect, at the end of the day she will do what I ask her to do. If you walk in with a cane, tell the interviewer you have a guide dog, they only have your word that they're not out-of-control crazy.
Kate
ah, very interesting thoughts love it! I forget that most people like dogs.. but some are scared of them.
Interviews with dogs are way better than with canes.
Following an interview (mind you, not part of the interview process itself), the manager with whom I was talking asked if I had a guide dog.
When I said I didn't, she said "good, some of the clerical people had stated that they were alergic to dogs."
Since I didn't want to start out a new job with an argument, I let it drop.
I agree that dogs are great at bringing possitive attention to a situation, but I think I'd rather have all the attention be on me and my abilities.
Bob
I agree with the last poster, but I also don't see where a dog can hurt an interview.
You see, you have a dog, so if you aren't getting the job because you have a dog, even if you walk in with a cane, you still have a dog, and you wwill need to bring your dog to work.
If I have a dog, I take said dog to interviews. If the reaction is positive, and most times it will be as described iin the second post, it is, if not, you know where you start.
People are fickle period.
Maybe you arrived and your dress was one the interviewer wished she could afford, or maybe you are fit, and she's not.
To many other issue to worry about.
Ah I think you're only being dishonest if you don't bring your guide dog to your interview; the dog is a part of you so why not?
These are all good points! Thanks so much! Very interesting!