YOU'RE HIRED -BY OLLIE THE ROTTWEILER

BUSINESSMAN Alec Burns barks out the orders at his packaging firm. But it's his 10-stone rottweiler Ollie who does the hiring and firing.

So far Ollie has hired five nervous applicants and turned down dozens of others he wouldn't even sniff at.

Managing director Alec said: "Ollie has an amazing sixth sense and knows the type of person that I'm looking to employ."

Alec, 38, advertises his jobs in a newspaper - and then hands over to Ollie to vet the applicants.

The CVs are spread out and any that Ollie barks at are discarded.

Those who don't get the barking treatment are given an interview.

At the interview Ollie sits on a chair next to his master, who swears that the dog pricks up his ears if the person tells a lie.

At the end of the interview Ollie either rejects the candidate by growling - or jumps off his chair and licks the person's face to show they are right for the job.

"If he starts jumping up and down and licking the person that means he obviously likes them - and that's all I need to know," said Alec.

Latest recruit at Burns Packaging Company in Deptford, South London, is 20-year-old Laura Smeeth.

She was delighted when Ollie gave her his paw of approval - and she doesn't even like dogs.

He picked her out of a tough short-list of 20 candidates for the pounds 11,000- a-year job as secretary.

As soon as she walked into the interview room Ollie made a snap decision that she was the right one for the job.

"I was chuffed to bits," said Laura, who lives in Bermondsey, South London.

"I'd only just finished my A-levels and I was desperate to get my first job, but I knew that the competition would be fierce.

"As soon as I came in the door Ollie pounced on me and he spent the whole interview sleeping on my feet.

"When I found out that he had chosen me I was incredibly grateful to him - especially as I don't even like dogs."

Ollie and Laura are now the best of friends and every week she brings him a pack of doggie chocolates.

Alec said: "After Ollie has made his decision, I ask the applicants on the spot if they want the job.

"They always accept because they know Ollie's a great dog to work for.

"As far as I am concerned there's no point employing someone if Ollie doesn't like them."

So far there has been no bone of contention between dog and master over the people Ollie has chosen for jobs.

Copyright 1998 MGN LTD
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