Susan, a friend and former co-worker of mine, is one of the world's greatest interviewees. She is a beautiful and smart woman with a captivating personality who seems to kills at every interview she always enters.
As she's often said, "if they take the time to interview you, they already know you can do the job. Now, it becomes all about the fit." There are a lot of ways NOT to get hired.
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| Michael Scott is looking for a "perfect fit" |
The problem with us creatives is that the idea of fit gets amplified. Paper salesmen sell paper and auto mechanics fix cars. Who cares about their temperaments? For writers, producers, editors, voice actors and directors, even if you've got a killer reel, it still becomes about fitting in.
Recently, a very successful general manager told me that after posting a job and beginning the interview process, she was still getting five to ten applications a day. It's really competitive out there, kids! She also said she was looking for "the right fit," so let's try to see it from the employers' point of view, shall we?
1. Do Your Homework
Thanks to the web, you can discover a lot about the culture of a company. If you're a hard-charging Type A leader, perhaps working for an organization that's described by others as a "laid-back, collaborative place to work." You'd do a great job, but perhaps not be the person they need at this time. Also, you probably wouldn't be happy, either. You can also learn a lot by seeking out current or past employees through LinkedIn or Facebook. Ask some pointed questions and you just might a learn something about the culture.
2. Know Thyself
You know what they want inside out, and you think you're flexible enough to do any job, but are you?
I know that I'm not comfortable working in a place with ping pong or pool tables for people to relieve stress during work hours. To me, that's called personal time or the weekend. I know that if I were placed in a place where employees can do absolutely anything they want without supervision or guidance, I would be out of my comfort zone. If you don't know yourself, you are bound to failure in an interview and job.
3. Be Likeable
Even if you're not a likeable person in real life, it's crucial that your new employer likes you. This might sound a "DUH" moment, but it's an important thing to consider. Tony Beshara puts it best in his crucial book, Acing the Interview, that "determining whether or not you are liked accounts for 40% of the hiring decision. No matter how good your skills might be, no matter how much of a risk you may or may not be, and even if working the money out is a foregone conclusion, you will never get hired unless you are liked." DUH! I wouldn't hire a jackass. Would you?
4. What's the Risk?
Are you likely to do something stupid and force the company to fire you at some point? Having been a supervisor for a number or decades, I can tell you that NO supervisor likes to have to call you into their office, discipline you or even fire you. It's a waste of time and talent and is disruptive. And worse yet, will we take a lawsuit over anything you might do? If you're someone who's made a series of missteps in the workplace, perhaps it's time for a little introspection and change of behavior, no matter how creative you are.
I've had great employees, such as men who wear toenail polish and women who were freakishly tattooed working for me, and they were great employees, but if they walked into an interview where they acted crazily, they would be immediately excluded. If you're into bondage and anarchy, keep it yourself. I may love the unique force of your personality, but if you have your best interview face on and still cross the line into weirdness,I'll wonder how much of the rest of the iceberg I can expect when I hire you. There's a fine line between being unique and a loose cannon.
There are tons of other things companies (and especially conservative HR directors and general managers) are looking for. Mostly, they are on the defensive, and their trusted department heads and your potential co-workers will get a big vote.
To get a really great perspective on the hiring practice, check out anything Tony Beshara writes: http://www.tonybeshara.com.
Now, get out there and be yourself...just don't scare anybody.
--Rich Brase
rich@richideas.net
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