It turns out that Sally Field did not actually say this when she accepted her second Oscar in 1985 for Places in the Heart. But it was so often misquoted that she later mimicked her own effusive gushing at the next Oscar award as a presenter.
People want to hire people they like. You will be their officemate, the person they rely upon in the office and representing them to the external world. We all spend a lot of time working these days, so they want their interactions with you to be pleasant. Additionally, they will have to explain their hiring decision, selecting you, to your peers, subordinates, their bosses and everyone who works there and perhaps even their spouse or strangers at a cocktail party or networking event. You should be someone they can be proud to introduce.
The employers I have surveyed, when asked which is more important “skills or fit?” say "fit". Information about fit and, in any event, verification of fit, are determined during the interview. If the employee can get along with co-workers and mesh with the corporate culture, Employers are happy to teach them the skills they need to effectively do their job now and in the future. Employers want a team player, someone who can collaborate with others to get the job done.
Show your personality during the interview. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not. If you interview one way and actually are another, the employer will resent the “bait and switch” and chances are it may not be a good fit for either of you of you, once you get the job. Sally Field actually said “you like me, right now, you like me!". Show your best self, but make sure the “right now” doesn’t stop after you get the job. Bring your best self with you every day when you get the job.
To learn more tips and techniques for better communication results, please contact Making Conversation at www.makingconversation.com. Peggy Wallace, Making Conversation LLC. (www.makingconversation.com) can improve your communication skills and enhance your interview preparation.
Present your best self by being authentic and enthusiastically showing your own unique personality; open doors by winning with words.
Contact Peggy for private sessions at Tel # (760) 803-2641 or e-mail Peggy at peggy@makingconversation.com
Be authentically yourself. Establish rapport. Making Conversation can assist you to develop responses which are thought out ahead of time, not the "automatic” or “right" response, but your personal best answer. If you communicate effectively with confidence and ease, your answers will persuade the interviewer to become your advocate.
Author Bio: Peggy Wallace's Making Conversation offers group and private conversational skills sessions as well as private interview preparation, with videotaped interview practice. Interview prep for college, jobs and scholarships assists you in developing clear, concise, persuasive and relevant personal stories which exhibit your individual strengths. Peggy is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School and Boston University School of Law. Peggy was a regional alumna volunteer interviewer for undergraduate admissions to Penn/Wharton for over 25 years. Peggy's business experience includes corporate attorney, fundraiser and financial services sales consultant.
