The secrets behind the HR interview – Part II
Matching between the candidate and the job
As stated, in an HR interview the interviewer is trying to learn about the personality and abilities of the candidate and to decide if it matches the job. Based on what the candidate says, his behavior and the impression he forms, the interviewer is suggesting different hypothesis about the candidate and examine it during the interview. This work is very similar to the work of a police investigator trying to find clues about the crime. In an interview the interviewer is asking the questions in 2 main aspects:
The “why” level- what are the motives imprinted in the candidate personality, what are his aspirations and desires? What is interesting and satisfying for him?
Questions for example: what do you find interesting in the designated job? What can disappoint you in the designated job? What parts of your current job do you like the most? If you had no constraints what profession or field of occupation would you choose? Why did you leave your last job? Describe your ideal boss? et cetera
The “how” level- how is the employee functioning in practice?
Questions for example: tell me about your current job? How would you characterize your management style? Tell me about a dilemma that encountered you at work and how did you solve it? Describe a conflict with your boss/ colleague/ customer. How did you solve it? If you could change something in your character what would you change?
We have to remember that interviewers aren’t looking for the “right” answer, and for the best candidate for the job, but, they are looking for the suitable man for the specific job. For example: the emphasis of how much I’m good at working in a team (that is a characteristic that most people find positive) could even harm the chances for the candidate to get accepted if the designated job requires a great deal of independence and the ability to work alone.
Of course the matching will never be absolutely perfect but the interviewer asks himself: will the candidate performance will be satisfactory? If he has disadvantages, maybe the organization helps him in some way to forgo it.
The best way to prepare for an HR interview in high-tech companies
1. collect data about the company and the designated job (via the Internet, people who work there and so on)
2. By analyzing the data you have gathered try to deduce about the characteristics of the job and the organization (for instance: is it requires team work or is it soloist? What are the objectives of the job? What is the output?)
3. From the characteristics as follows one should derive the personality characteristics that match and probably needed for the job.
4. Then, you should see what of those you have and what of those you haven’t got.
5. You have to remember that the interview is actually a chance for the candidate to “sell” himself to the interviewer. Thus, he should highlight the matching attribute and disguise his less fitting qualities.
6. The last step is to think about examples for your advantages that you want to promote in the interview (it’s important to prepare, while at the same time in the interview you should keep a certain natural flow, and not to stick entirely to your plan).
The following is a table of examples of matching between the personality of the candidate and common functions in high-tech companies:
|
The title of the job |
An example of a fitting motivation (the “why” level) |
An example of a fitting abilities (the “how” level) |
|
QA |
The need to maintain a high quality work. The need to deepen and to research |
Systematically thinking, thoroughness, pay attention to the little details, ability to work as a part of a team, persistence even in routine job |
|
Software Programmer/Developer/Engineer |
The aspiration to be significant via the creation of a product in the outside world, to build an innovative product that reflect myself and my creation |
creativity, thinking “out of the box”, coping with ambiguousness, flexible mind, practical thinking, the ability to solve problems |
|
Team Leader |
Management motives: being important and in the center of things via the influence of people/outcomes |
The ability to motive other people, persuading abilities, assertiveness, long term thinking and planning. |
|
Help-Desk/Technical Support |
The need to accept positive feedback via helping other people and help then solve problems in a practical way |
Interpersonal ability, patience, mental strength, ability to solve problems in a practical effective way |
Tags: HR Interview, Job Interview, Job Search