The Human Touch in Interviews

Why Hiring Managers Should Show Their Personality in Interviews 

In the pursuit of the perfect candidate, many hiring managers adopt a stoic, strictly professional demeanor. While maintaining a level of professionalism is crucial, suppressing your personality can hinder the interview process and ultimately lead to less effective hiring decisions. In today’s candidate-driven market, where talent is highly sought after, showcasing personality is a powerful tool for attracting and securing top talent. 

Why should hiring managers let their personalities shine during interviews? 

1. Building Genuine Connections and Rapport: 

Interviews are a two-way street. Candidates are evaluating the company and the potential manager just as much as the manager is evaluating them. By revealing a bit of their personality, hiring managers can create a more comfortable and engaging environment. This fosters a sense of connection, making candidates feel more at ease and encouraging them to be their authentic selves. A relaxed candidate will provide a more accurate representation of their skills and fit. 

2. Providing Insight into Company Culture: 

A hiring manager’s personality is a direct reflection of the company’s culture. By being genuine and approachable, they offer candidates a tangible glimpse into the workplace environment. This allows candidates to determine if they would thrive in that particular setting. Showing a human side helps to make the company feel less like a faceless entity and more like a place where individuals are valued. 

3. Enhancing Candidate Experience and Attraction: 

In a competitive market, candidate experience is paramount. A positive interview experience can significantly impact a candidate’s decision to accept a job offer. Hiring managers who display warmth, humor, and genuine interest create a memorable and positive impression. This not only attracts top talent but also enhances the company’s reputation as an employer of choice. 

4. Eliciting More Authentic Responses: 

When hiring managers are personable, candidates are more likely to relax and offer more candid and honest answers in interviews. A rigid and impersonal interview can lead to rehearsed responses and a lack of genuine interaction. By building rapport, hiring managers can gain deeper insights into a candidate’s character, values, and work style. 

5. Assessing Cultural Fit More Accurately: 

Cultural fit is a critical factor in successful hiring. By showcasing their personality, hiring managers can better assess whether a candidate’s values and work style align with the company’s culture. They can gauge how the candidate interacts with different personalities and determine if they would be a good fit for the existing team. 

6. Standing Out from the Competition: 

In a market where candidates often have multiple job offers, hiring managers who are personable and engaging can make a lasting impression. Their ability to connect on a human level can be the deciding factor in a candidate’s decision. 

By embracing their personality, hiring managers can create more engaging, authentic, and effective interviews. This not only benefits the candidates but also leads to better hiring decisions and a stronger company culture. 

Match Point Recruiting is a boutique consumer goods executive search firm in Bentonville, AR

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