An HR manager lambasted a product that I count among my core skills, (how) should I correct him?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

The other day I called a company about a job they advertised that I was interested in. I spoke to the HR manager there who asked me what kind of relevant industry experience I had. I told him I was very proficient in XYZ. He then proceeded to say something negative and factually incorrect about XYZ, followed by blaming unrelated product problems on it before finally claiming that one should develop their own tool instead of relying on XYZ.

Assuming I was applying for a construction worker job, he said something like: "It's easy to tell if someone used a Stanley brand hammer to build a house because it results in poor construction. You shouldn't use a Stanley brand hammer because it results in poor-quality construction. You should make your own hammer."

I really wanted to correct him and explain how he was wrong, but wasn't sure if it would be the right step to take seeing how he's the one who will decide whether I make it into the company or not and at the same time, if I get hired, I wouldn't be interacting with him very much anyway.

In the end, he sent me a test and if I pass it, I'll be seeing him for an interview. If it comes to that, should I correct him then? Or should I send him a follow-up email before then to explain things better to him?

manpreet 2 years ago

As always, show don't tell. Say how in your experience using XYZ worked well. For instance:

I've been working on a new house recently with Stanley brand hammers and found they worked well. We did try using CheapKnockOff brand hammers for a while, but my team found they gave blisters due to the cheap covering on the handles.

(As you can probably tell, I know virtually nothing about hammers). The point here is that everybody's circumstances are different: in some circumstances (the one's you've been in), XYZ was the right choice. In other circumstances, it's not, so it's not about correcting somebody else, it's about understanding what's different. Don't assume that the same things apply in this new role as applied in your old role.