Job Interview: The Hiring Process

Charisma – Who needs it?  You do! We hear a lot, especially these days, when it comes to the qualities that are considered “must-haves” to be considered for a job interview or moving up the ladder from the job you have.  Almost any job or job interview, be it a top executive at a Fortune 500 Corporation or a frontline employee at a fast food restaurant, touches on the importance of having charisma, at least to some degree. It is part of the hiring process. The list seems endless, but let’s looks at just a few of those characteristics:

• Integrity
• Dedication
• Magnanimity
• Humility 
• Openness
• Creativity
• Fairness
• Assertiveness
• And of course, a sense of humor

I could go on and on, but you get the point. What really makes that difference?  On a job interview and in the workplace, why do some people stand out and others seem to fade into the background?   What we are talking about is “CHARISMA”; that immediately recognizable quality that one senses, big time, when one meets someone who has it.  But for many of us, it seems intimidating at times and, all too often, out of reach. But fear not, everyone can raise their charisma quotient for the job or the job interview.  You just need a few tips and understand how charisma plays a crucial role in the hiring process.  Here are just five that anyone can work on to become more influential, yes – more charismatic and make the hiring process work in your favor!

1. Be aware of the Silent Messages you send.  Do you look people in the eye?  Do you have a firm hand shake?  Do you listen intently, or do you try to “multi-task” while someone is talking to you?  These all send messages you might not really intend to send.
2. How persuasive are you?  More importantly, can you boil down even a complex idea to something everyone can understand?  Now, that’s a skill worth practicing.
3. It’s simple, but can you articulate your message?  If you can’t explain it, you’re sunk.
4. Can you adapt to the folks you are dealing with?  Can you treat people the way they want and need to be treated?
5. What’s your vision?  Everything else aside, you have to have something worth sharing that you’re passionate about. If you don’t have anything to say, being charismatic doesn’t really matter does it?

How about you?  Do you boil down or boil over?  We all know people who are masters at making a “mountain out of a mole hill”; these folks are not charismatic by my definition. How about you? Do you consider yourself charismatic?  What qualities do you see in others who you feel are charismatic?  What can you do to turn up your charisma for the job interview that shifts the hiring process in your favor?