In thinking about what makes the perfect candidate for a job, certain qualities come to mind: self-motivation, diligence, and being both a leader and a team player are surely some of them. Now comes the interview, and you’re wondering how you are going to determine whether your potential candidate possesses all of the above attributes. The reality, which not everyone in the business realizes, is that you cannot truly asses these innate qualities about the individual by asking only the formalities (salary, career aspirations, organization skills, etc.). Moreover, the system of having the rest of the company (or a part of the company) to do the hiring is often inaccurate and may not produce the best results; often, the interviewers do not know exactly what they are looking for. Although it may be nearly impossible to figure out the “right” questions to uncover your ideal fit in a candidate, you can use your gut and keen observation to figure out if the person before you is “the one.”
In the interview, you are going to get a gut reaction to the vibes the candidate is giving off. Perhaps it is best to separate yourself from what they are saying and study their body language and to listen to their energy. It is possible the person finds it easy to act a certain way in order to impress, but certain aspects of your conversation with them can help determine if they are genuine and have follow-through. If the person uses a lot of eye contact and is a good listener, it is very probable that they are willing and ready to learn and that they really mean what they are saying and have good intentions. Of course, every case is different, and it is again possible for someone to make a good impression and then not deliver, but by focusing on what your gut is telling you, you will have a better chance of making a decision you will be pleased with.
Another way to determine if the candidate is gold is to really listen to the recruiter. (You may think I’m being biased with this one… but read on, I have good reason!). The recruiter is often able to gauge certain personality traits about the candidate based on their conversation with the individual. In spending a good fifteen minutes with the candidate on the phone, at a time when they aren’t necessarily stressed or trying to impress in an interview type setting, the individual is likely to really reveal the type of person they are by the manner in which they communicate their current status. We here at Phifer & Company believe in a personalized approach to recruiting where we try to get at the heart of an individual and see what makes them tick in what often ends up being some sort of therapeutic conversation. As we hang up, we feel we really know our candidates and can accurately translate what they are about to our clients. Thus, I feel that in order for a client to truly assess the perfect candidate, they need to listen to their gut, observe for themselves, and listen to the recruiter!!
That’s all for now!
XOXO, Recruiter Gal. aka Emma Demar