Interview Tips: Could a ‘Bad’ Skiza Tune Deny You a Job? HR Responds

By Elizabeth Benu,
“My friend was denied an interview because when someone called her the skiza tune was “nataka kulewa lewa”. The problem was that the group inviting her for an interview was a Christian based organisation. When she tried calling back she was told that the organisation does not encourage such behavior.

My question is “does a skiza tune influence HR’s perception about a job candidate?” writes Salome Mulinda in an email.

How many times have you called someone only to be entertained by the ring back tone or what we commonly known as the skiza tune?

Some are entertaining and funny while others leave you wondering what the person was thinking.

Salome’s friend lost out on a job opportunity because of her skiza tune. It is just a mere song but would HR perception change about you when the skiza tune does not appeal to them?

Speaking to Beth Wanjira, a Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services, she opines that skiza tunes should be done away with.

“Some of them can be really irritating especially the mother tongue ones. If you are dealing with professionals then you would rather do away with them,” she adds.

What impression does it give? I ask

“It raises credibility concerns about you. For example if you are applying for a Human Resource Manager position and you have the “nataka kulewa lewa” ringtone, do you think the recruiter will be positive about you? Ring back tones can easily be construed as rude, immature and unprofessional,” she says.

So does having that tone disqualify you as a candidate? I ask further

“It does not disqualify you. What it does is to make the HR question your character. It creates an idea of who you are or might be before the interview,” she explains.

Andrew Masese, the Human Resources Manager at Butali Sugar Mills Limited says that, “There is no harm in having Skiza tune but moderation should be applied when it comes to the level of decency and choice of tone. It should be acceptable. For instance the one which mentions one’s name and what the name means is ok. The Skiza tune should be devoid of obscenities and should be acceptable to all.”

“One of the most vital things you must do while searching for employment is to present yourself as professionally as possible. The best CV in the world is useless if your cell phone represents you in unprofessional or inappropriate ways,” says Sara Amundson a career advisor at JobSeeker.com

“Usually, the goal is not to annoy your potential employer. Always assume that someone will be irritated by being forced to listen to music against their will. This rule goes for offensive or risqué music that references sex, drugs, violence or religion,” Ms. Amundson adds.

“Potential employers and recruiters can be turned off, shocked, or offended by ring-backs featuring edgy, controversial music or tribal content.

Even tones such as an inspirational quote could be a turn off for some recruiters, “Ms. Wanjira adds.

“With the high unemployment rate, do not harm your chances of landing your dream job. Remember working in a corporate environment demands professionalism so be on the safe side. Avoid ring back tones if you can,” Ms. Wanjira advises.

For any interview tips and follow up questions, contact elizabeth@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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