Winning the selection process
Just the other day, I was discussing with one of my colleagues how some of our candidates effortlessly defeat equally or even better qualified candidates in the selection processes we're professionally involved in. Often they somehow manage to come out on top, even if they meet only the minimum bar in terms of formal selection criteria, while others may have much more to show for on their resumes.
What is it that make these people the hiring company's favorite, time and again? It is difficult to pin down exactly, but here's a few essential traits they all seem to share:
1 They understand the vacancy is about the company, not about them.
An important vacancy is a business issue. Its existence simultaneously holds threats and opportunities for a company. All too many candidates put themselves at the focal point of the interview.
Let me give you an example: Let's say a company is hiring a new Marketing Director. This company has been losing market share for some time and one of the problems is the positioning of its core brand. The candidate's experience with brand repositioning is weak. The self-centered candidate will turn to his/her CV and try to find straws to cling on to. Or they might try and play down their own weakness, hide it, or avoid it. The company centered candidate will acknowledge the relative lack of experience and will then address the problem of market share loss and bring possible solutions to the table (that may or may not have anything to do with brand positioning).
2 They show involvement
They prepare, read, google, talk to people, buy the hiring company's product. They form reasoned opinions on what they hear and see and communicate these during the interview. They ask questions that show genuine interest in the company, its markets, its people, values and the way they do or think about things.
3 They address issues that may not be too obviously related to the position as such
How are budgets decided on? What's the influence of the regional headquarters? If I decide we need to invest, who would I need to involve? It's questions like these that show true experience. It shows they understand how success ultimately is not solely up to them.
4 They know themselves
They sell what they have, and do so with confidence, but they never over-sell. During the interview they seek to find if the conditions under which they know they can be successful, are there. In doing so, they demonstrate they are not trying to get a job, but in stead are trying to establish a match that is optimally beneficial to both parties involved.
5 They present themselves as equals in the process
This last trait naturally follows from the former. They don't show dependence, just as much as they don't play hard-to-get.
Hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Wilfred Karreman
