Do The Best Get Hired?

Or do the best interviewees get the jobs?

I get crushes on people. All the time. Right now, I've got a crush on Amy Winehouse.

Yeah, she's acting crazy and yes she's married but so what, she's my Barbra Streisand. And, it'll be over in a week anyway and then, a few weeks later it will be somebody else.

(The problems come when you get involved before the crush is gone and you're still around when it's disappeared).

And, from what I've read, it's pretty much the same with everyone. We all get like-ons for some people and hate-ons for others.

And, although I like the way that Amy looks, most of these likes are just that: likes. There's nothing romantic about them. You meet a candidate and say "Wow!", he's terrific or she's terrific and you want to get them in front of a client to dazzle them just as you've been dazzled.

The question arises, of course, "Are these candidates really so good or have you just fallen in love with them?". Well, I know it's common to say that the best people don't get hired. The people who get hired are just good at interviews. But, I don't necessarily agree. In my experience, if you fall in love with a candidate, it's because she's really good.

If talent slaps you in the face, you get excited. It's not just a matter of someone speaking well. And, if I'm wrong, I'd like to see someone prove it. All I see now are people making the assumption that because not everyone is good at self-presentation only the bimboes get the jobs.

PS: Julian, me and Amber MacArthur? It's over.

PPS: Received by email: "What is it? The bimbo freakazoid look? Answer: Yeah.
(Hear Rehab).

Comments

[Bill Martineau]

Your right of course that it's not just good interviewers that get the jobs, but the best candidates. In IT (my market) we have terrific "technicians" who can't communicate effectively and therefore they suffer through a more narrowly focused career than the "technically proficient" candidate who speaks wells, carries themself with confidence and brings across their personality during the interview process. Of course when you find the A level "Technicians" of the world you'd be well advised to learn how to teach(prepare) them to succeed on their interview as you will make many more placements.

[Catherine]

A candidate has to really impress me in all areas - not just the interview, the whole package. How they handle themselves before and after the interview. I need to get a good sense of who they are...what I believe they can contribute...how much drive they have...and how much they want the job. With that said, I have selected candidates where the "look" was not there, but all the right qualifications were. And still, it didn't work out (it was a commitment issue). And the other end of the spectrum...where I wanted to believe the qualifications were there because I bought into what I saw on the surface. Don't worry, no hire - my decision. It's interesting banter.