Don’t play games – just be honest!

The bottom line of everything I am about to write can be summarized with the following:

If you are interested in a job and hope to be selected out of all the candidates in the running – show it, be upfront, don’t hide your enthusiasm and stop playing “Mr. (Ms) Cool”.

As a headhunter, I obviously love being the bearer of good news to job seekers and abhor being the messenger tasked with delivering the bad news. After having spoken with each candidate at least a dozen times before the recruitment / interviewing process nears its end, I can anticipate the reaction I am going to get. I know that disappointment is imminent for someone who was extremely interested in the position and that a more lukewarm reaction is to be expected from someone who was not entirely sold on the new job. 90% of the time I am right, but it is the other 10% that always catches me off guard. If you are my candidate and I have spoken to you about a position time and time again, only for you to keep asking me a million and a half questions saying that your interest level is 6 out of 10, how can I not be shocked when you express astonishment and resentment over not getting the job in the end?

Playing “hard to get” is simply not attractive and “poker face” is better used in... umm... poker. You have to understand that we are not in the business of forcing people into jobs or forcing our clients into hiring just about anyone. Our aim is to match two parties that will be absolutely thrilled to have found a perfect fit. When our client is “lukewarm” about a candidate, we suggest that they move on to other applicants. Likewise, when you are telling us that you are not entirely pumped about the position in question, we take it at face value and coach both our client and you accordingly.

As a jobseeker, you might think that it is best to remain professional and “corporate” at all times, hiding your emotion as much as possible. Yet, you couldn’t be more wrong. I cannot tell you how often I have told clients that a candidate they are considering is (and I quote) “absolutely in love with the company”, “super impressed with everyone they met during the interview process” and “crossing their fingers to get the job”. Can you guess the client`s reaction when they hear this? Do they say: “Oh, what unprofessional feedback. Unacceptable.”? No! 10 times out of 10, the reaction we get is: “Really? He is really interested in us then? Oh great! What else did he say?”

People are people, regardless of whether they are hiring or being hired. Your passion and your transparency are often appreciated above anything else. Clients are more eager to hire candidates who show that they are beyond interested in the company and the job in question. Clients are even much more flexible on paying such candidates a higher starting salary!

So, please stop playing games – it will not increase your negotiating power. Be candid and remain human & it will land you that job you secretly (sometimes very secretly) are hoping to land.

Coming to a Potential Employers’ Office Unannounced

Despite our many years in recruitment, it never fails to surprise us when the receptionist calls to let us know that there is someone to see us without an appointment. What does it mean when a job seeker shows up at reception without a scheduled meeting? Interestingly, many candidates think that it is a sign of being a proactive go-getter. I am yet to meet a hiring manager who agrees!

If you are interested in an open position, you should email your resume to either HR or directly the department you would like to join. If you already applied and have not received a phone call, showing up unexpectedly will hardly convince the hiring manager that your background is, in fact, a fit for the role.  If you think that your dashing good looks might help you get the job, consider including a photo with your resume! It is a norm in most European countries and is slowly becoming popular here, too.

What if there is no opening listed anywhere, yet you would love to join the company in question? Consider using social media to your advantage! Connect with other employees at the company via LinkedIn and then reach out to them to discuss topics of interest. Slowly you could build up to finding out what opportunities exist within the firm. You could also mail your business card or your portfolio (depending on your field of specialty) to the hiring manager.

Gone are the days when calling or showing up at the employer's door were the only ways of appying for a job. Think of creative and modern (yet non-intrusive) ways of standing out from other job seekers and impressing a potential employer. Showing up unannounced is most certainly not one of them!

Interview as a Networking Opportunity for Jobseekers

We are always baffled when candidates refuse an interview for a job opportunity in their field. It clearly demonstrates one’s shortsightedness and lack of understanding of the power of networking. Unless the job description is completely unrelated to what you do or the client’s industry is in direct conflict with your personal values (e.g.: meat packing company if you are a vegan or an arms manufacturer if you are a peace activist), why refuse an opportunity to meet with other professionals in your field?

An interview is an opportunity to make powerful connections in your area of specialty, regardless of whether you are offered the position or if you end up accepting it. We live in a world where networking and connections lie at the heart of most opportunities. If the job opening in question is not a fit, who is to say that the Vice President you meet (and potentially impress) cannot recommend you for another opening, perhaps even at a different firm?

At the same time, you cannot discount the importance a company’s “cultural fit” plays in deciding whether or not a job opportunity is one for you to consider. I have had candidates read a job description and be beyond enthusiastic about meeting the client, only to call me back after the interview to say that there was no chemistry whatsoever. On the other hand, I have had candidates who were lackluster about meeting with a client, only to call me after the interview raving how much they loved everything about the company and how much they now want the job. So, unless you are thoroughly familiar with the company interested in meeting with you, you simply do not know if the opportunity presented to you will be a fit until you go for the meeting.

Interestingly enough, I am yet to come across a senior-level candidate who would refuse an interview opportunity. When I am filling a high-level mandate, potential contenders for the position rarely even care about the job description prior to confirming the meeting. Of course, they read it to prepare for the interview, but it is hardly the determining factor in their desire to meet with the client. They understand that any opportunity for a one-on-one meeting is golden, and seize it.

So, what does it mean when someone refuses an interview? Is it a lack of maturity and business savvy? Is it really surprising shortsightedness and a simply passive attitude? Considering that we strive to represent the best of the best, to us it means that we would rather focus our efforts on candidates who are proactive, eager and determined. If you are looking for a job, yet are unwilling to go on interviews, we cannot help you, but do wish you the best of luck in your search. You will need it.

How early should you be for your interview?

One thing is certain – being late is never a good idea, regardless of your reasons. If you are running late, you should at the very least call to give the person expecting you a heads up.

Many job seekers think, however, that the earlier you come for your interview the better. I disagree! While it is a great idea to be 5 to 10 minutes early, showing up half an hour in advance is not the best move. Sure, some interviewers have no problem making people wait (one of my former bosses even thought that she demonstrated authority by taking her time). Yet, most recruiters or hiring managers don’t enjoy carrying on with their tasks while someone is sitting at reception waiting for them. By coming very early, you are inevitably putting pressure on the person meeting you to hurry up and rush through their task at hand. Being ‘fashionably late’ is certainly unacceptable in the business world. Nonetheless, you do want to show that you too “have places to be and people to see”. So, circle the block a few times if you have to or go have a cup of tea before the appointment. When you walk in 5 or 10 minutes before your scheduled time, the interviewer is more likely to be ready for you and you are less likely to have made a negative first impression.