When it comes down to preparing for a job interview we all do our utmost best. You dress nicely, you wear your favourite perfume, chosen because it is not “too overwhelming”, you do not smoke beforehand, you speak politely, you are on time; Ready. To. Rumble.
During the interview you show the best of yourself, the interviewee has studied your resume and asks questions about your previous experience. You know most of the questions they will ask; What were your responsibilities in previous positions? What are points of attention? What do you know about our company? What are your strong features, and your weak?
Focus Shift
The last years we have seen a trend in job interviews that have significantly changed. Not the experience is important, but the personality behind the resume. Next to that, skills can be learned, personality cannot. You are hired for your skills and fired because of your personality…
In 2013 Heineken set the tone for “Next level job interviews”. The reason for this was rather simple; Every job interview is the same, and all answers given are previously studied, similar and not original. The Heineken Candidate project was born, where candidates were put in several surreal, uncomfortable situations. This all, to get them out of their comfort zone and to show their true colours. See the video here; The Heineken Candidate.
A wise man (Neale Donald Walsch) once said; “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
The idea above is genius, because as employer you want to know if the candidate would potentially fit in the team and in the corporate culture. If your culture and team spirit are precious to you, it is essential that the applicant fits in.
Starters
Sometimes it might be the case that HR simply thinks the right candidate is not to be found in the pile of resumes, or there are plenty of candidates that share similar experiences. However, motivation, attitude and personality, factors that are not reflected in experience, are of great additional value for an organisation. The personality trait eventually sets the right candidate apart from the others.
Think about starters, the upcoming professionals who do not have any experience yet, however, are extremely driven to start their careers and deserve an opportunity. This motivation should be acknowledged and based on their personality they are elected for a shot at their first job.
Characteristics that help you get the job
A study conducted by Human Resource Management Center Inc has identified traits that work in your favour to land a job. These are; Multitasking (take on multiple roles, especially important for small organisations), strategical thinking (providing goal with a vision and a path to follow creates value and essence for the entire team), independence and decision-making (thinking ahead, taking responsibility, sense of ownership and contributing to the organisation on own initiative) and a flexible team player. All factors that you can now take into account when applying for your next challenge.
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