Jewish World Review June 24, 2005 / 17 Sivan, 5765

An indecent interview

By Monica Crowley

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | So imagine you land an interview for the job of your dreams. You get a new suit, polish your shoes, and maybe get your hair trimmed. As you head into that interview, you are a little nervous, a little excited, ready to impress your potential future boss. You make sure your (non-exaggerated) resume is in order, your references are all lined up, and that you don't have a spring broccoli in your teeth.

Now imagine that as you are shown into your potential boss's office, you find that he hasn't prepared for the interview as thoroughly as you have. Not only did he not invest in a new suit, he is wearing the one named for his birthday. That's right: he is naked.

Yes, this actually happened to some poor, unsuspecting job applicant in Scotland. A 25-year-old woman came in to interview with the Alpha Translating and Interpreting Services in Glasgow. When she arrived, her potential boss, Saaed Akbar, asked her if she would mind if they took their clothes off. She politely declined, so he left the room and came back naked anyway, carrying a clipboard. No word on whether that clipboard was strategically placed. When she refused to strip as well, he put his clothes back on and tried to conduct the interview as normal. She fled.

His defense? He initially told police his strip was a consensual "role play" and part of his "tough interviewing technique!" No, a tough interviewing question is, "where do you see yourself in five years," not "where do you see me in five minutes!" He went on to say, "I wanted a bit of excitement." I'll say.

The sheriff was not excited by his defense and sentenced him to three year's probation and placed him on the sex offender's register. He has lost his job, his family, and most of his friends. That's what he gets for abusing his position and sexually harassing a job applicant by putting on the Full Monty.

Poor woman: she came in to get information about the company, and left with way too much information about her likely boss.

On the upside, maybe Mr. Akbar now has a clue as to what not to do to get a date.