As a recruiter, I want to do everything I can to set candidates up for success, especially when meeting with a potential employer. We all know that interviews are not the most comfortable situations to be in, especially when you are speaking about your life, career aspirations and challenges to someone that you don\u2019t know. You may be nervous, stumble over your words and perhaps say the wrong thing, but that\u2019s OK\u2026 because it happens to the majority of us!<\/p>\n
One thing I do every time I meet a new candidate is ask them to tell me a bit about themselves. This might seem like a very clich\u00e9 \u2018icebreaker\u2019 question that they will be accustomed to answering. However, the answer that I look for is probably not what you would expect. I don\u2019t want a summary of your professional experience, I actually want to learn more about you as a person and to allow you to feel more comfortable.<\/p>\n
So to go against what you will have heard and read before; please tell me about your two kids that keep you up at night, your dog that you would much rather spend time with, or whatever it is that allows you some alone time on the weekend. I also strongly encourage candidates, if it feels right, to do this when meeting with hiring managers. Why? Because your answer portrays your values, motivations and shapes the person that you are. This is really important for an organisation to see, in order to ensure that the culture of their organisation suits your needs. It also allows a hiring manager to picture who you are outside of work and gives them a good understanding of why you would be a good fit culturally in their business.<\/p>\n
As a relationship-driven individual inside and outside of work, opening up personally comes naturally to me. However, I completely appreciate that the same can\u2019t be said for everyone. Nine times out of ten, candidates revert back to what feels comfortable to them and when asked \u201cTell me about yourself\u201d, end up talking about their professional experience and technical skills. Don\u2019t get me wrong, this is extremely important and something that I will ask candidates to discuss in great detail. However, with a large number of candidates often vying for the same opportunity, your softer skills and personality can often be the thing that sets you apart.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind when interviewing, your soft skills will be the ones that really help you stand out from other candidates. If they don\u2019t seem tangible, make them tangible. Use examples and describe situations that demonstrate how you\u2019ve used effective communication, teamwork and leadership skills outside of work. By doing this you will demonstrate to the recruiter and the hiring manager how you will thrive in their environment.<\/p>\n
Try treating your initial interaction as an introduction at a friend\u2019s BBQ. It\u2019s relaxed, you build rapport and you actually get to know quite a lot about someone. It\u2019s less formal, which takes the pressure off an interview scenario and trying to think of what the \u2018right\u2019 thing to say is.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there is no one question, or set of questions, that people can ask to know if someone is the right cultural fit. The entire interview process is assessed in order to arrive at that decision. This is why it is important from the very first moment that you meet with someone to try and be yourself as much as possible, and in doing so, it should help you feel more comfortable throughout the interview.<\/p>\n
I always hope to leave my candidates feeling that they have just had a valuable conversation with someone in their industry rather than a one-sided interview where they have felt interrogated. For me, the most important thing and what I enjoy the most about this job is building strong and trusting relationships, and it all starts with getting to know my candidates.<\/p>\n
So the next time you meet with a recruiter or a potential employer, try and delve into the softer side of the interview and see if you can connect on a more personal level. Remember, you can learn just as much about them by going into the \u2018softer side\u2019 and really decide if you are in fact a good cultural alignment. It\u2019s a two-way street. Relationships are built on trust and if you can share mutual trust, you should have a long and prosperous relationship moving forward, not only with your line manager but the organisation as a whole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Going Against the Norm As a recruiter, I want to do everything I can to set candidates up for success, especially when meeting with a potential employer. We all know that interviews are not the most comfortable situations to be in, especially when you are speaking about your life, career aspirations and challenges to someone …<\/p>\n