It May be Time to Walk in an Employer's Shoes
If you are in a job search and aren't receiving
viable hits, it's time to walk a mile in an employer's shoes. Okay, I
realize what you may be thinking. For just one day, you would like an
employer to walk in your shoes so they can be sympathetic to the stresses
you are going through on a daily basis. That makes sense, since what most of
us want is to be understood by others.
However, when I suggest you take the time to
put yourself in the position of an employer, that isn't meant to minimize
the realities and responsibilities of your world. Your responsibilities sit
across from you at the dinner table every night and they miraculously appear
in your mailbox every month.
On the other hand, just as you would like to
be understood, so do employers. And though you don't have control over an
interviewer, you have full control over what you decide to do during your
job search.
A bad hire costs a company a lot of money,
and they have their own concerns. A fundamental way to get ahead in the job
search is to understand an employer's perspective because their point of
view is their truth, and their truth dictates how they will react. It will
serve you well to understand what a bad hire costs a company.
Three Biggest Concerns of the Hiring
Manager
- We all have been there, working in a
department where there is an unproductive employee who insists on making
waves; someone who has their own agenda and refuses to play by the
rules. Perhaps you are searching for a job right now because of
unbearable circumstances in your workplace. This is precisely what
hiring managers are afraid of: losing good workers because of the
actions of a bad employee. That cost is immeasurable.
- A hiring manager puts his or her
reputation on the line when choosing to endorse a candidate. And that is
exactly what a hiring manager is doing when submitting a name for
consideration. If they make a bad hiring decision, their ability to make
sound decisions is questioned.
- An employee is a representative of a
company and a bad hire can have an adverse effect on relationships with
vendors and/or customers. Employers fear the loss of valuable
relationships that can result from the actions of an employee.
Therefore, employers want to scrutinize the personality of candidates
before an offer is extended.
Ways to Alleviate a Hiring Manager's Concern
BEFORE the Interview
- Research the hiring
organization. I know. I know. You have read
this before. This isn't new information. But it is worth repeating
because chances are that you have gone on interview after interview
without conducting research. Do your homework on the hiring organization
and on industry trends. This is the number one way to uncover a hiring
organization's concerns.
- Don't underestimate the power
of your resume. Your resume can address
employers' hidden concerns with ease, by speaking to your ability to
deliver results, work in a team environment, and lead others to achieve
organizational goals. The resume you submit to employers is one of the
most powerful tools you have full control over. Create the best
presentation you can.
- Be positive.
Negativity is a deal killer. Let go of all that has gone wrong in your
job search. Attend each interview feeling confident about your
qualifications and what you can bring to the table.
Ways to Alleviate a Hiring Manager's Concern
DURING the Interview
- Meet concerns head on.
Find out exactly what an employer is looking for by simply asking one
question during the interview. “Thinking back to the last person who
held this position, what were his or her strengths, and what areas
needed improvement?” Then listen to what the interviewer says and
connect your responses to the employer's needs.
- Don't act like a politician.
One of the major complaints we have when it comes to politicians is that
they never answer the question posed by the reporter, but rather they
provide an answer that makes the point they want to bring forward. And
this exact quality is what most job seekers do in an interview. Take the
time to answer the questions the interviewer poses. If you aren't
forthcoming, the interviewer is likely to conclude you are attempting to
hide something.
- Demonstrate interest.
If you want to continue participating in the interview process, ask the
interviewer the following: "Ms. Rodriguez, I am sincerely interested in
the position and would like to participate in the next round of
interviews. What is the next step?"
Ways to Alleviate a Hiring Manager's Concern
AFTER the Interview
- Send a thank-you note.
Send a thank-you note to every person with whom you interviewed and
reconfirm your interest in working for the company. If there was a topic
of concern that you feel needs further discussion, briefly tackle the
topic in your missive.
- Follow up with a phone call.
During the interview, ask the interviewer if you can follow up in two
weeks. Then make sure you do!