Bruce Hurwitz
Many years ago Bruce Hurwitz of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing applied for a senior fundraising position with a non-profit in Chicago. The executive director was going to be at a conference in Rye, New York and invited him to his hotel for an interview. He arrived early. He had a book with me and lost track of time. When he realized that the exec was a half hour late, he went to the Reception Desk to leave him a note. He then appeared and said, “I’m really sorry. I met an old friend and totally lost track of time.”
This organization was a chapter of a national organization. Hurwitz would have been the chief fundraiser for Chicago. They were joined by the national director of fundraising. Hurwitz had done some homework prior to the meeting and learned that the national director strongly disliked fundraisers who worked for the organization where he was employed. He had worked for them years earlier and had been fired after a few months.
They got a table at one of the restaurants in the hotel. The executive director was apologetic and after Hurwitz told him it was alright, the interview began. Then the national director started to ask him questions. He used a word that Hurwitz had never heard before. When he told him that he did not know what it meant the director responded, “What? You’re a Ph.D. and you doubt understand English!” Hurwitz just smiled. He then asked Hurwitz a question about the organization and, when he responded that he did not know the answer, the director said, “What? Didn’t you go to our website?” Hurwitz told him he had but had not seen any information about what he was asking him. The exec confirmed that it was not on the Chicago website, only the national.
The night Hurwitz sent the exec an e-mail thanking him for the interview, withdrawing his candidacy, and wishing him well. He responded asking Hurwitz if it was because he had kept him waiting and the “behavior” of the national director. Hurwitz replied that he appreciated the interest in his candidacy and wished him the best. He sent Hurwitz a follow up e-mail and left a few phone messages all of which Hurwitz chose to ignore.
Now Hurwitz advises his clients to do what I did, “Be polite, be firm, and don’t get into a fight.”
Curated by Deepak Gupta.
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