Too many times candidates and people in networking situations feel that they have to put on their “interview persona”–which simply isn’t true. Be real, show some personality to increase how much an employer likes you.
This week I worked with a client (and yes, I know you’re on my list (smile)) who was having a bit of a “personality block” when it came to the job interview. She is a truly lovely, professional-looking woman, but when it came to interviewing, or even introducing herself in front of a group, she’d turn into a “Stepford Job-Seeker” (a la a Stepford wife), and put on this impenetrable cloak of professionalism. It made it virtually impossible for people to get a feel for who she is, let alone figure out if they liked her or not.
When I was a hiring manager, this was the biggest issue that went through my mind when I was interviewing candidates. What IF they were the perfect fit for my job, but I just couldn’t wrestle a personality out of them?
As those of you who know me can attest, and those who have just read my material can figure out-I have a LOT of personality. Some would say too much at times-ahem. So when I was hiring for an assistant or account manager to work for me, I’d look for someone who also had a good personality, would laugh at my jokes, and make the day go by a little quicker. I’ve also never met a moron with a great sense of humor; so if they were funny, I was confident that they were smart too.
I know that job interviews are stressful, and as the candidate there’s a lot on the line, but as a hiring manager, I’m still not going to hire someone I don’t like. I don’t care how perfect their resume is or where they’ve worked before.
So how can you up your likability component? First, if you’re working with a coach or a friend, start practicing by talking about a funny trip you took, your last holiday with your family, a good movie-anything to get you relaxed. Remember that feeling. Remember your posture, the expression on your face, and how easily you thought of what to say next. Now, have your friend ask you to give them some examples of a project you worked on at work. Talk them through what you did, why you made the decisions you did, and relate it as the same interesting story that you were just chatting about in “relaxed” mode. Now I never advocate acting unprofessional in an interview, but there’s always an opportunity to be personable and friendly. Think of watching an interview with Julia Roberts or Oprah or George Clooney. They are friendly, but never lose their cool or reveal too much about themselves.
After I worked with her, my client went into the interview with a fresh set of eyes and realized that the HR Director actually was the one lacking the personality. I had coached my client about the importance of establishing a rapport with her-HR Directors, like it or not, hold the keys to the kingdom-so she would give my client an idea of what types of personalities and styles they were looking for in their ideal candidate. If it wasn’t going to be a fit with my client, then that was valuable information. However, once the HR Director lightened up a bit, she did share those details and even more with my client. Emboldened with this success, my client then went through the rest of the interviews, confident that she was the candidate they were looking for. This sense of confidence, in turn, made her more relaxed, and her success with the HR Director showed her that being personable in an interview can open up all kinds of doors.
So how are you coming across in your interviews? Are you recognizing that being qualified for the job is only half of the battle-that it’s really the personality fit that sells you to a company? Are you really reading the situation and the interviewer, or are you stuck in your own head-worrying about your responses rather than listening to what they’re looking for?
The great news is that you can practice this skill without the pressure of an interview. The next conversation you’re having-really pay attention to how the other person is reacting to what you’re telling them-and adjust your approach! Getting into this habit will greatly improve your ability to effectively read situations and people.
Melanie Szlucha’s company Red Inc. Helps candidates stand out from the crowd–in a good way. Follow her on Twitter or check out her website.
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