| Just recently in the news there was a story | | | | One applicant when interviewed said he was |
| about an Internet company called Image Net | | | | soaking wet from the rain and climb and was |
| who conducted job interviews on Mt. Fuji in | | | | not properly prepared for the climb clothing |
| Japan. Image Net sells mostly women's | | | | wise. Obviously he was not one of the ones |
| clothing on the Internet and I think it's | | | | hired. Would you hire someone who could not |
| safe to say Image Net thinks "outside the | | | | even show up for an interview properly |
| box." | | | | attired? Sometimes a suit and tie just |
| | | | doesn't cut it. |
| Lets examine why and see if this "outside the | | | | |
| box thinking" is conducive to hiring new job | | | | This type of interview also gave the company |
| applicants. | | | | a chance to see who was lazy, who was |
| | | | determined, which applicants were team |
| When they put out their ad for the job there | | | | players, unselfish, and prepared for the |
| were 50 applicants. 21 were invited to climb | | | | unexpected. |
| Mt. Fuji to be interviewed. 15 of those | | | | |
| applicants showed up and only 11 made it to | | | | Your typical job interview is not going to |
| the top to interview. Out of those 11 three | | | | bring out these traits in applicants nor is |
| to four were offered jobs. | | | | it going to show you these personality |
| | | | traits. |
| The president of Image Net, Mr. Daiji Kanda, | | | | |
| climbed the mountain with the applicants and | | | | With many resumes being nothing more than |
| at different levels of the climb would stop | | | | hype and exaggerated truths I see this trend |
| and tell the applicants about the company and | | | | in unique job interviews growing. Apparently |
| their business. | | | | so has Hollywood. I am sure you've seen The |
| | | | Apprentice with Donald Trump and now the |
| Mr. Kanda and his staff gave lots of | | | | latest one with Martha Stewart. |
| encouragement to the applicants as they | | | | |
| climbed. | | | | If you're a hiring manager and want |
| | | | applicants where you can actually see their |
| When they reached the top of the summit they | | | | work habits and personality in action I |
| were told to video tape models and then they | | | | suggest you take a lesson from Image Net. |
| were interviewed. | | | | |
| | | | It's also a bonus to note that this company |
| I believe this type of interview process is | | | | got huge PR from this single job interview. |
| going to catch on with forward thinking | | | | |
| companies and I'll tell you why. | | | | The company is based in Japan yet we heard |
| | | | about the story all the way across the pond |
| The climb provided several different | | | | in North America. |
| opportunities for management to see how the | | | | |
| applicants helped each other. Which ones | | | | All in all I would say Image Net came out a |
| were natural leaders and taking | | | | big winner. Great new employees plus a ton |
| responsibility. | | | | of free publicity for the company. |
| | | | |