Some of the most revealing moments in a hiring process happen when a candidate doesn’t believe they’re being evaluated.
I started my career in the recruiting industry at one of the lowest levels of the organization. Because the company was relatively flat, I was interacting daily with everyone from the sales team to senior recruiters and even the founder of the company. The flip side to that was that I dealt with various vendors, building contractors, and the cleaning crew. I had range!
That experience was pivotal, shaping how I approached recruiting, sales, and business development for the rest of my career.
Beware the Gatekeeper
I was genuinely surprised at how differently people treated me once they decided I was simply an obstacle between them and the business leader they wanted to reach. What they didn’t understand was how much influence people in my position have over access, information, and the way impressions are formed inside the organization. Treat the wrong person badly, and the gates have a way of quietly closing.
Status Often Changes Behavior, and Behavior Exposes What an Interview Never Will
Executives generally know how to present themselves to another executive. The problem lies when that person runs into a receptionist or assistant and a switch flips. In recruiting, these interactions are not invisible, and the impressions created travel rapidly. They also represent a very concrete part of the hiring decision.
Treat Every Interaction as Part of the Interview
I remind executives I partner with that every single interaction surrounding an interview contributes to the impression they leave behind. That includes the recruiter scheduling the meeting, the assistant coordinating logistics, and the person who greets them when they arrive. You will never know who will be asked for an opinion afterward, but more importantly, consistency in how you treat people says something meaningful about how you will show up inside the organization.
A polished interview can help people understand what kind of leader you are. Once you leave the room, a different kind of evaluation begins. Who are you as a person? Are you authentic? What does the way you treat others say about you professionally?
#JobSearchStrategy #CareerTransitions #InterviewStrategy #ExecutiveBranding #HitInterview