Michele Pamboukis – Chief Human Resource Officer
With over 20 years of experience in HR, Michele has a proven track record of driving merger/acquisition integrations, cultural and leadership development, creative HR practices across diverse and complex organizations.
Passionate about creating high-performing cultures, being a trusted advisor, and leading transformational change.
Highlights
I feel people just aren’t prepared. Sometimes women in particular (when I’m interviewing another woman) – they make the mistake of making it too ‘girl to girl’. Or they think I’m an idiot (sometimes with men). They think ‘oh this is just HR’ and don’t take it professionally. Go into the interview with a professional mindset.
I ask candidates to give me feedback they’ve received from their managers. Don’t answer like this:
‘I was mean.’
“I’ve been told I have really bad communication skills.”
Don’t like when someone trashes their old boss.
Michele Pamboukis
1) What are common mistakes you find candidates make during interviews?
I like assertiveness. I don’t want you to be a prick, but I want you to be confident.
2) What do you wish candidates did more of, either before or during an interview?
I feel people just aren’t prepared. Sometimes women in particular (when I’m interviewing another woman) – they make the mistake of making it too ‘girl to girl’. Or they think I’m an idiot (sometimes with men). They think ‘oh this is just HR’ and don’t take it professionally. Go into the interview with a professional mindset.
3) Biggest red flags? Biggest green flags?
“Interviewed someone for a HR position and asked them to give me feedback that they received from their manager”
I ask candidates to give me feedback they’ve received from their managers. Don’t answer like this:
‘I was mean.’
“I’ve been told I have really bad communication skills.”
Don’t like when someone trashes their old boss.
4) What have been some stand-out questions/interactions you’ve had with candidates, good or bad?
Early on in my career. Low production role in Ohio. I asked her “tell me about your working relationship with your supervisor. Did you get along?” ‘Did we get along? That’s how I got this black eye, we were going at it on this water bed.’
5) If a candidate applies to one of your positions, and maybe even interviews, but doesn’t hear back, should they reach out to you or the recruiter?
Yes they should reach out.
6) Do LinkedIn profiles matter?
I never look at them. I couldn’t care less. When I interview you I’m going to get a lot more out of you. I just scan resumes.
I got one today fkr a project manager. 8 page resume. He’s an engineer, but he doesn’t stay anywhere very long. Leads me to believe he gets caught up in himself. Would wonder about his decision making skills.
Also wonder about “what are you most proud of?” Give me an example.
Michele Pamboukis
1) What are common mistakes you find candidates make during interviews?
I like assertiveness. I don’t want you to be a prick, but I want you to be confident.
2) What do you wish candidates did more of, either before or during an interview?
I feel people just aren’t prepared. Sometimes women in particular (when I’m interviewing another woman) – they make the mistake of making it too ‘girl to girl’. Or they think I’m an idiot (sometimes with men). They think ‘oh this is just HR’ and don’t take it professionally. Go into the interview with a professional mindset.
3) Biggest red flags? Biggest green flags?
“Interviewed someone for a HR position and asked them to give me feedback that they received from their manager”
I ask candidates to give me feedback they’ve received from their managers. Don’t answer like this:
‘I was mean.’
“I’ve been told I have really bad communication skills.”
Don’t like when someone trashes their old boss.
4) What have been some stand-out questions/interactions you’ve had with candidates, good or bad?
Early on in my career. Low production role in Ohio. I asked her “tell me about your working relationship with your supervisor. Did you get along?” ‘Did we get along? That’s how I got this black eye, we were going at it on this water bed.’
5) If a candidate applies to one of your positions, and maybe even interviews, but doesn’t hear back, should they reach out to you or the recruiter?
Yes they should reach out.
6) Do LinkedIn profiles matter?
I never look at them. I couldn’t care less. When I interview you I’m going to get a lot more out of you. I just scan resumes.
I got one today fkr a project manager. 8 page resume. He’s an engineer, but he doesn’t stay anywhere very long. Leads me to believe he gets caught up in himself. Would wonder about his decision making skills.
Also wonder about “what are you most proud of?” Give
Michele Pamboukis
1) What are common mistakes you find candidates make during interviews?
I like assertiveness. I don’t want you to be a prick, but I want you to be confident.
2) What do you wish candidates did more of, either before or during an interview?
I feel people just aren’t prepared. Sometimes women in particular (when I’m interviewing another woman) – they make the mistake of making it too ‘girl to girl’. Or they think I’m an idiot (sometimes with men). They think ‘oh this is just HR’ and don’t take it professionally. Go into the interview with a professional mindset.
3) Biggest red flags? Biggest green flags?
“Interviewed someone for a HR position and asked them to give me feedback that they received from their manager”
I ask candidates to give me feedback they’ve received from their managers. Don’t answer like this:
‘I was mean.’
“I’ve been told I have really bad communication skills.”
Don’t like when someone trashes their old boss.
4) What have been some stand-out questions/interactions you’ve had with candidates, good or bad?
Early on in my career. Low production role in Ohio. I asked her “tell me about your working relationship with your supervisor. Did you get along?” ‘Did we get along? That’s how I got this black eye, we were going at it on this water bed.’
5) If a candidate applies to one of your positions, and maybe even interviews, but doesn’t hear back, should they reach out to you or the recruiter?
Yes they should reach out.
6) Do LinkedIn profiles matter?
I never look at them. I couldn’t care less. When I interview you I’m going to get a lot more out of you. I just scan resumes.
I got one today fkr a project manager. 8 page resume. He’s an engineer, but he doesn’t stay anywhere very long. Leads me to believe he gets caught up in himself. Would wonder about his decision making skills.
Also wonder about “what are you most proud of?” Give
Michele Pamboukis
1) What are common mistakes you find candidates make during interviews?
I like assertiveness. I don’t want you to be a prick, but I want you to be confident.
2) What do you wish candidates did more of, either before or during an interview?
I feel people just aren’t prepared. Sometimes women in particular (when I’m interviewing another woman) – they make the mistake of making it too ‘girl to girl’. Or they think I’m an idiot (sometimes with men). They think ‘oh this is just HR’ and don’t take it professionally. Go into the interview with a professional mindset.
3) Biggest red flags? Biggest green flags?
“Interviewed someone for a HR position and asked them to give me feedback that they received from their manager”
I ask candidates to give me feedback they’ve received from their managers. Don’t answer like this:
‘I was mean.’
“I’ve been told I have really bad communication skills.”
Don’t like when someone trashes their old boss.
4) What have been some stand-out questions/interactions you’ve had with candidates, good or bad?
Early on in my career. Low production role in Ohio. I asked her “tell me about your working relationship with your supervisor. Did you get along?” ‘Did we get along? That’s how I got this black eye, we were going at it on this water bed.’
5) If a candidate applies to one of your positions, and maybe even interviews, but doesn’t hear back, should they reach out to you or the recruiter?
Yes they should reach out.
6) Do LinkedIn profiles matter?
I never look at them. I couldn’t care less. When I interview you I’m going to get a lot more out of you. I just scan resumes.
I got one today fkr a project manager. 8 page resume. He’s an engineer, but he doesn’t stay anywhere very long. Leads me to believe he gets caught up in himself. Would wonder about his decision making skills.
Also wonder about “what are you most proud of?” Give