I was looking for an experienced Heating, Ventilation and A/C tech to work in the service shop.
I had a stack of applications, but only a handful of qualified candidates.
I interviewed multiple candidates while in the process. I was hoping someone would stick out in the crowd and after that I met with Jack. Jack had a ton of experience and she was still young and healthy. She was perfect for the Heating, Ventilation and A/C service contractor. She had many years working in a commercial Heating, Ventilation and A/C service service plus a couple of years of military background. I interviewed Jack and every one of us talked for nearly an hour. At no time while in the interview did the woman mention the fact that she has a criminal record. It would not have been a deal-breaker for me, if she would have mentioned the problem while in the interview. When I found out through a criminal investigation, I was genuinely aggravated. I told Jack that I was not going to be able to hire him and I stated the exact reason why. She understood our reasons. I told the woman that she could apply again next year if she still needed a task. I continued our search for a new professional. I ended up hiring a lady with multiple years experience. Her resume did not look nearly as nice as Jack’s, despite the fact that she did not have a criminal history and 2 felonies on her record. I truthfully hope the woman will apply again next year. She seemed like a great candidate for the task and I would be willing to deliver him a try.