The Ballad of Steakhouse Dave

Everyone was in on it except Dave

I led a job seeker workshop that met every Wednesday night. A group made up of people interested in developing interview skills, troubleshooting their resumes, or generally looking for encouragement in their job search.

There were 15 regulars, several HR professionals, a few business owners, and job seekers looking for help. HR professionals were there to give advice from the other side of the table. Interviewing is an important skill.

Inside information is valuable

Business owners would come in with job announcements. They were on the lookout for their next new hire. Job seekers wanted interview practice in a safe environment.

My idea was to have participants work on behavioral interviewing. I thought they needed to know how to answer a question using the STAR pattern. I offered insight on how to take control of an interview when the interviewer not very savvy.

Interviewers who lack interviewing skills is pretty common

There is a way to handle such an interviewer. I teach a technique that encourages the candidate to take control. By using a bulletproof example of how their skills made a positive impact, the candidate can effectively turn the tables. In essence, changing the subject to a question they are prepared to answer in great detail. It is my job to teach the technique. All you need is a little confidence and the right preparation. I know this works.

At the end of every session, we would go around the room, and someone in the group would ask the next person a question about their dream job. What frustrates them? What are they looking for?

Dave was up next. In place of the dream job question, someone asked Dave if he ever had a great dining experience.

Dave perked up

He gushed about a steakhouse just around the corner from his house. So close that he could walk there in ten minutes. Even less if he was on his beloved scooter.

Dave went on to say the food was unlike anything he had experienced. First of all, the steak was absolutely stunning. He said he noticed how happy everyone working in the restaurant appeared. It piqued his curiosity.

The steak was perfectly cooked. Served at the correct medium-rare temperature with blue cheese on top. Dave even liked the creamed spinach.

He commented about the staff saying their attitudes were lively. They appeared to be well informed.

Then, without realizing it, he said, man, I’d love to work there. That would be the perfect place. I would even wash dishes to get in on a job like that. Oops! Dave, did you just say that? Yes, you did, and right in front of ten people trying to find a job, they too would love. In other words, their steakhouse.

Everyone in the room looked at Dave at the same time. Dave could not put those words back in his mouth. The entire group said almost at once, Dave, why don’t you go back and apply for a job?

He backpedaled and tried to get out of it, but we wouldn’t let him. The round-robin stopped. The group locked on to Dave. We were determined to get to the bottom of this.

We started asking him questions. What is the name of the place? Where is it located? Do you know the telephone number? Do you know if they have job openings?

Dave answered with a confident no. He said he didn’t know anything. I think he regretted saying that he would love to wash dishes there.

We started a secret steakhouse task force. Everyone was in on it except Dave.

One of the business owners contacted the owner of the restaurant. He wanted to tell him about the rave reviews someone gave his place in front of the group. He added that the guy, Dave, mentioned that he would love to work there.

The owner of the restaurant was delighted to hear this. He said he was looking to fill a couple of jobs. He asked for a call back to let him know when Dave could come in for an interview.

Did the secret steakhouse task force hook a fish?

We knew Dave would be at the next workshop. We planned for a DAVE HOUR.

Several of the participants worked in restaurants, and we had them prepare a briefing. We prepped some coaching points for him.

We let him know that the owner of the steakhouse would be there on Thursday. Dave was invited to an interview after the lunch crowd filed out.

Last week Dave was singing the praises of the restaurant and how great the food was.

Dave lived around the corner, so transportation was not an issue. We knew Dave was free on Thursday, so we knew he could make it after lunch. We coached Dave about what to wear, to polish his shoes, and to keep an eye on personal hygiene.

We tried to eliminate anything that could prevent Dave from becoming SteakHouse Dave. We had it all set up and even got him to commit that he would be there at 2:30.

We were building SteakHouse DAVE!

The secret steakhouse task force had all the bases covered to the point where all that was left to do was have Dave show up and ask the owner for a job.

With all the bases covered and everything set, we finished up our workshop. The group gathered around Dave and encouraged him. We wished him well and really gave him a nice send-off.

We remembered the time Dave complained that he was unemployable. He was sure no one would possibly want to hire him. He could not imagine himself with a great job, making good money, and having a steady income.

Even with his own dim outlook, Dave now had a chance to work in a place that he said he would love.

The next workshop came quickly. We were all together and ready for the next challenge.

Dave entered the room. We tried not to pounce. The task force was dying to know how the interview went. We wanted to celebrate every detail of his first day on the job. The job he said he wanted.

Did it come up all filets of mignon for him?

We asked Dave to share. The first question was.

Dave, did you go to the interview?

Dave began to speak.

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Douglas Pilarski is a writer/journalist living in Portland. He covers luxury goods, lifestyle, exotic cars, CJ-CX, workplace issues, food, horology, and tech. He is a regular contributor to medium.com

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