A pharmaceutical company was conducting interviews to select candidates for the posts of Medical Representatives. The company conducts systematically structured interviews and vets candidates’ educational qualifications, communication skills, basic knowledge of human physiology etc. to assess their suitability for the position.
The interviewing officer called in the first candidate after a break and asked him to narrate an unforgettable experience in his life. The candidate rambled something in pidgin English for less than a minute and stopped. The IO noted ‘Poor’ in the column titled ‘Communication Skill’ in the evaluation sheet.
The IO then asked him to name any three systems of the human body. The candidate remained silent. The IO promptly noted ‘Nil’ in the column titled ‘Technical Skill’ in the evaluation sheet.
It was then the IO realised that there was something wrong with his carefully structured interview and noticed the column titled ‘Educational Qualifications’ in the evaluation sheet was blank. Cursing himself, he queried the candidate about his educational qualifications. The candidate replied, ‘Intermediate, failed Sir’.
The IO wondered whether he should be more surprised by the mulishness of the candidate or angered by the carelessness of his own staff for not weeding out the application in the first place. Curbing his anger he patiently explained to the candidate that the minimum educational qualification that the company looks for in candidates for the position of ‘Medical Representative’ was a bachelor’s degree preferably in biological sciences. The candidate’s reply stunned the IO speechless, for here was what he said:
“Sir, I have not come here seeking the post of a Medical Representative. Please give me the post of the fellow who follows Medical Representatives and says ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Thank You’, with folded hands to the doctors.”
