Q: A friend of mine recently interviewed for a position where I work but seems to have made two errors in my opinion. From the sound of things, it didn't appear that he even looked at our publication, or if he did, he didn't do a thorough job and apparently it showed during the interview. Also, he wasn't interested in the job and may have said during the interview that he wasn't ready to leave his current position for this one. That made my editors wonder why they spent the money to fly him out here and put him up and spent the time to talk to him if he wasn't serious in the first place.
I don't know this person well.
Should I tell him that he may have left a bad impression?
Embarrassed
A: I would certainly tell him and I would tell him that his cavalier attitude could tarnish your reputation just for having done him the favor of opening a door for him. You did him a favor; he did you none.
I would then go to your editors and apologize for his behavior. They shouldn't hold you accountable for what he did or didn't do, but clear the air and show them you're as mystefied as they are.
