The Likeability Factor - Do You Have It?
by Linda Matias
Growing up, we all had a mental picture of the perfect life partner The person
we thought would be our happily-ever-after -- a person with a perfect smile, beautiful
eyes, and an adorable button nose. Fast forward to reality and who did you wind up
with?
Chances are that if your partner of choice happens to be male, you ended up with
a guy who is shorter than you expected, has less hair than you anticipated, but overall
is a pretty neat fellow. And if you’re interested in women, chances are that
the woman you ended up with isn’t as curvaceous as you dreamed, but overall
is a very special person.
The truth is that no matter what you envisioned, you bought into what your partner
was offering. Although he or she didn’t meet all of your set criteria, they
met the most important one -- they are good people -- and that is why you chose their
companionship.
When it comes to hiring decisions, recruiters aren’t any different. Realizing
that one candidate isn’t going to meet all the criteria in the job description,
the recruiter buys into the person as a whole -- not one characteristic, accomplishment,
or degree. After all is said and done, hiring decisions, for the most part, are based
on whether or not the candidate is likeable.
What most don’t understand is that likeability is more than the knack for
getting others to hang out with you after work and share a couple of beers. This is
why most interviews are challenging. Not only do you have to demonstrate that you
are technically capable of doing the job, you must go a step further and impress the
recruiter with your professional makeup -- that is, your ability to be assertive,
focused, and versatile.
Assertiveness
When done right, assertive behavior is a nice balance between self-assurance
and cockiness. This attribute can be a driving force during an interview because the
person sitting across from you can’t help but be drawn to you, and therefore
begins to respond to your ideas, thoughts, and words. Coming across as assertive leaves
the listener the impression that you are confident in who you are as a professional;
and that attribute wins job offers.
Focus
Believe it or not, most interviewers dislike going through the motions of
hiring, just as much as candidates dislike going on interview after interview. For
this reason, a huge part of a successful interview is based on your ability to focus
your responses on results. In doing so, you bring clarity to the conversation and
help connect the dots for the interviewer. This is an important point because there
are times when interviewers don’t fully understand how your marketable skills
can easily transfer to the open position.
When the interviewer begins to buy into your experience, you automatically become
more appealing, and -- in the eyes of the interviewer -- the most qualified candidate.
Versatility
Interviewers seek candidates who have a broad perspective and aren’t
stuck in their way of doing things. Individuals who are versatile are natural-born
achievers and are recognized for being forward thinking, flexible, and resourceful.
These attributes interest organizations since the candidates who are adaptable will
more than likely flourish in any circumstance.
Too often, job seekers overlook the likeability factor. The reason? It’s
always easier to lay the blame on a hiring manager than to take a personal inventory
of how you are affecting your job search. Though it is true that sometimes hiring
decisions are based on factors beyond your control, there are occasions when it comes
down to whether or not you made a positive first impression.
Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our website as
long as the following byline appears intact.
Certified in all three areas of the job search—Certified
Interview Coach ™ (CIC), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally
Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)—Linda Matias is qualified to assist you in your
career transition, whether it be a complete career makeover, interview
preparation, or resume assistance. She is also the author of
How to Say It: Job Interviews (Prentice Hall Press) which can be found
at Amazon.com or your local bookstore. You can contact Linda Matias at
linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website
www.careerstrides.com for additional career advice and to view resume
samples.
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How to Say It: Job Interviews
Amazon.com's Bestseller In It's Category
Buy Your Copy Today
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How
to Say It: Job Interviews
Written
by Linda Matias a Certified Interview Coach and director of Certified Interview
Coach Institute, How to Say It®
Job Interviews provides the nuts and bolts you need to interview successfully.
Order
How to Say It® Job Interviews through Amazon and learn how to ace any
job interview.
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