They say that dating is like recruiting... or at least in DC they say that. Sometimes I look over a profile on a dating website as if it were a resume. Shallow? Yes, but true. Speaking from experience- both from making these mistakes myself,and also having seen others make them- for those candidates building up a dating profile, here are some things to stay away from:
- any picture that makes you look heavy or bald
- coming on too strong!
- a picture with pit stains.
- telling people you're into a weird animal like a goat
- dishonesty (saying you're 27 and looking 47 in your picture)
So, you (the recruiter) hold a pre-screening, perhaps a phone interview, and then we get to the in-person interview, and obviously there are some boxes to be checked:
1. Timeliness
2. General hygiene and/or odor
3. Ability to carry self in public (i.e. get us a table or sit in an interview without fidgeting)
4. Decisiveness
5. Good judgement (i.e. not telling that awkward story about your aunt Beatrice)
6. Personality
Of course you've asked the standard questions, "What were you doing before this?" "What made you want to change positions?" and "How soon could you start?" You continue to have an open mind throughout the interview, but you keep careful mental notes for later. Perhaps this candidate scores 4/6 - that's pretty good. I hope for your sake #2 was one of the boxes that got checked. Perhaps you take back your findings to the larger panel (your friends), to dissect every portion of the conversation. Perhaps this candidate makes it to a second round of interviews - at which point you have to get a bit more strict on the criteria:
a. humor
b. asks leading questions
c. attractiveness (believe it or not, this is at times a factor in actual recruiting)
d. good fit for the position
The candidate should always send a thank-you, as a matter of courtesy. Handwritten thank-yous are not required. Sometimes follow-up is important - but just as in a potential offer of employment, you don't want to seem too eager. Never a good place to go.
Meanwhile the interviewee tries to determine - are you a good fit? It's hard to define - but you just know if that chemistry is there. Of course, you can keep someone warm as we call it - sending them the random text, a missed call here or there, the vague promise of future hangouts without any real committment. But who wants that? I've always appreciated the ones who just tell you straight up, "Look - you interviewed well, but you're just not qualified for this position."
So good luck, everyone, here's to finding that perfect new candidate.
