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I
hate interviewing job candidates. I hate having
openings that need to be filled. I want my company
to be fully staffed at all times. When turnover
results in an open position, productivity slows
down. When I have to spend time looking for someone
to fill an open position, productivity slows down.
When I have to spend time training a new person to
do a new job, productivity slows down. Do you see a
pattern here?
My primary concern when interviewing job candidates
is to find the best person for the job. I don't
want to interview hundreds of people to get to the
one I should hire. When you are in front of me
during an interview, I'm looking for a sign that you
are a good candidate for the job. I want to hire
you. If I can hire you, I don't have to keep
looking for the right person for the job. Instead,
I can start training you and get back on the path to
productivity.
All you have to do is convince me that you will be
the best choice to fill the position. You have to
let me know that you have both the ability and the
desire to do the job, and that you are likely to be
a successful long-term employee. You also have to
let me know that you aren't likely to cause me a lot
of headaches as your manager.
When you show up for your interview on time, you are
telling me that you understand the importance of
punctuality. I like punctual employees.
Punctuality leads to productivity. On the other
hand, when you are late for your interview with me,
you are telling me that I won't be able to count on
you to be where you are supposed to be when you are
supposed to be there. When I have to deal with
tardiness and absenteeism, I get a headache and
productivity slows down.
When you dress properly for your interview, you tell
me that you understand the importance of a
professional appearance. You tell me that you
respect the workplace and its policies. However,
when you wear clothes to the interview that don't
even meet the minimum standards for the company's
dress policy, you are telling me that you just don't
comprehend one of the most basic components of
professionalism. I don't have time to teach new
employees how to exercise good judgment when it
comes to their attire. When I have to deal with
dress code violation issues, I get a headache and
productivity slows down.
When you tell me that you left your last job because
your boss was a jerk and all of your co-workers
hated you, you are telling me that you lack
professional communication ability and are likely to
be a disruptive influence in my workplace. You are
telling me that there is a good chance that you have
a problem with authority. Even if your former boss
really was a jerk, don't tell me that. If I hire
you, then I'm going to be your next boss. What will
you tell people about me? I don't know if the
problem at your last job was with you or with your
boss. All I know is that if you are saying bad
things about your last boss to me on the day we
meet, that you are likely to make negative
statements about me as well. When I have to deal
with employees who can't play nicely with their
co-workers or supervisors, I get a headache and
productivity slows down.
When you tell me that you really want to work for my
company because you will learn a lot of new things,
you are telling me that you aren't likely to be a
long-term employee. I'm not hiring you so that I
can teach you what I know. I need to hire someone
who is interested in making a contribution to my
organization. I need to hear how you can contribute
to my company when I am interviewing you for a job.
When an employee views a job as a learning
opportunity, he or she will likely choose to leave
the job within a relatively short period of time.
When I have to deal with turnover, I get a headache
and productivity slows down.
Simply said, I need to know that you are going to
make my work life easier instead of making it more
difficult. Companies hire employees for the
positive contributions they can make to the
organization in terms of productivity. If I invite
you to interview with me, I am looking for a reason
to hire you. Don't talk yourself out of the job.
If you can convince me that you have the ability and
desire to do the job, a good attitude, are
trainable, and are likely to fit in well with the
other members of my team, you're hired!
Mary Gormandy White is a career and training
expert who specializes in customer service,
management, communication, and career development
training at Mobile Technical Institute
http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com. She
also works with MTI Business Solutions, providing
corporate training, marketing, writing, and SEO
consulting services to a wide variety of clients.
Stop by
http://www.dailycareerconnection.com
regularly for more career and professional
development tips.
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