New series at the Capitalist: The Top 100 Movie Quotes of all time for HR Pros.  In no special order, I break down the 100 movie quotes that resonate most for me as a career HR pro.  Some will be funny, some will be serious... Some will tug at your heart like when the Fox voice-over guy said, "Tonight - a very special episode of 90210"... You get the vibe... I'll do it countdown-style like they're ranked, but let's face it - they're ALL special..

#87: "These aren't the Droids you're looking for"...

--Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars

Jedi mind tricks.  Sometimes you need them as an HR Pro.  You're never in greater need than when someone you know and trust asks you for a reference on someone for whom you can say nothing positive.

You're in a tight spot.  Liability and hurt feelings all around you.  The need to be truthful with someone who's made the request you know and respect.

What should you do?  Don't talk about the person, talk about the role.  What's the job again?  What are you looking for?

Suddenly, an opening appears.  It has nothing to do with the candidate in question, or how they're awful.  You begin speaking in Jedi HR code about "fit" for the position and things that are required that just aren't present in the candidate in question.  Your spin isn't candidate centric, it's position specific.

You need an Account Manager who's going to show up every day and deal with bombs from customers and not get frustrated?

"This isn't the droid you're looking for"... The candidate you asked me about is more of a hunter than a farmer.  Sure, I didn't tell you that he once took a swing at a co-worker in an after hours drink-off and had affairs with two clerks who were married.  You didn't need to know that.

All you needed to know?  This isn't the droid you're looking for.  Move along, Sparky.  I just helped you and maintained my dignity.  Boom.