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Like It or Not, Likability is the Key to Getting Hired
July 21, 2009 (10:00AM) by Jessee
 This post is written by Jessee (pictured), a guest blogger. She's a working professional and the author of the blog BusterPeach. Her career has endured four cross-country moves, two layoffs, a major merger, and the launch of three startups — all with just two employers. While her expertise lies in contact center operations management, she has focused heavily on employee training and development and is especially passionate about coaching soft skills and sales performance.
HR professionals may not admit it, but I believe being well liked carries as much weight as being well qualified when it comes to job offers. We pay more attention to people we like. We respond positively to enthusiasm, warmth, and supportive comments. Even the way we dress helps others relate to us. It's human nature to seek out similarities to ourselves and to perceive a reflection of ourselves in someone we like.
After a job interview, nobody says, "Gee, Tom was so punctual! I can’t wait to work with him!" It's more likely to be, "Tom was not only professional, he was so friendly! He’ll be great to have around!"
When I take stock of some of the candid, unconventional (but apparently likable) things I’ve said and done in interviews, and still got the job offer, I'm convinced this theory must have value. Here are some examples I've heard — or starred in — of how your attitude can be more impressive than your experience:
- I once interviewed with the company where my father was a well-known manager. Although we wouldn’t have interfaced in this huge company, my interviewers knew the connection. I played it safe and gave stock answers to stock questions. I was qualified but I was not being particularly impressive. I could tell I won them over when I added, "Look, do not hire me because of who my father is. I am my own person, with my own work ethic, and my own goals."
- Another time, I applied for a promotion to a newly created sales management position; as did 29 of my peers. Management screened out 16 applicants and interviewed 14. I was the last to interview with a panel of saleswomen, and they were exhausted. Having no idea how I stacked up against the competition, I strategically asked them to define "what success would look like" in the position. I could tell they loved the question because they all perked up. As I listened intently to their hearty descriptions, the hip, smart, saleswoman inside me grew increasingly confident. I sat back in my chair, smiled, and said very calmly to the panel: "Well, I’m your man." Thankfully, they got my little joke – they knew the value of “asking for the sale.”
- My aunt once trudged through something like 16 interviews in one month. The last one caught her in just the right (or wrong) mood. Sitting in yet another lobby filling out yet another application before the interview — where the application asked for Sex (meaning gender), she put "Never." And for Salary, she wrote "Yes, please!" They hired her on the spot because she was both qualified and funny!
- A friend of mine once traveled four hours to Atlanta for an interview. He got stuck in traffic and was forced to drive straight to the interview, unshaven, wearing jeans and a junky college shirt. Expecting to be walked to the door within 20 minutes, he avoided making excuses, and didn’t mention it. He figured he had nothing to lose by relaxing and being himself. Apparently they liked him just as he was; they kept him for three hours and later offered him the job of a lifetime!
You can do some crazy, corny, and amazing things if you just put some personality behind it. It all contributes to how well they'll like you, and in the end, that's what might get you the job. My apologies to HR nerds everywhere. It probably sucks to know how right I am and not be able to endorse it!
Has likability helped get you the job over your experience or education? Share your experiences.
RELATED LINKS
You're Qualified, But Do They Like You?
Career Advice, Brought to You by American Idol
Why the Post-Interview Waiting Game Takes So Damn Long
HAHAHA! Your aunt is crazy! I can't believe she wrote that and got the job!
I really agree about the likeability factor. It's huge.
Huger than people think. Maybe huger than it should be. But huge.
OH Yeah! Likeability...Job searching as in Sales. Prospects buy from you NOT solely because of your product and pricing. Down to the Bone marrow...it's because they like you. If I don't like you, I'm not gonna hire you. Great Blogpost, Pongo.
I could not agree more with this post!
Being an employer, I can tell you that having a person who fits the company culture and has a positive attitude is just as/if not more important than someone who has the perfect skill set. We can train someone on the skills needed to do a fantastic job. Everyone can learn and grow from their mistakes but we cannot change who we are and how we behave as a person.
-- Rocketman
I had applied for a supervisor position within my company, as had a number of others. Most were weaned out, and I was one of the final contenders. At the interview, the first question asked was "Why do you want this position?" My answer? "Because I want to drive the golf cart!" (something only supervisors are allowed). After hearing all the others give sententious and sanctimonious answers about 'better serving the company', this made the whole panel laugh, eased the tension in the room, and ultimately, landed me the position!
Thank you all for the great comments!
People often cannot imagine brushing up on "likeability" skills before walking in to an interview because well, how the hell do you do that!?!? It's not hard to do, it's just hard to measure. But like any soft skill - if overlooked, results are devastating!
Being the compulsive soft-skills coach that I am, I constantly find myself telling people: "YOU HAVE TO ROLEPLAY, even if you're just alone in the bathroom mirror. And yes, at first you will feel ridiculous but in the end you will be amazed at how big a difference it makes." People brave enough to try it in earnest overwhelmingly agree that the dialogue in your head sounds very different when it leaves your mouth. Even just practicing your smile can make a difference.
Whatever you do, the whole point here is to relax and have a bit of fun!
So true. Personality has definitely been what has worked for me in the past. That is what I don't like about applying online. So many employers only take online apps. They can't see you, hear you, and your resume is one in a million. How can you get around that?
I agree with the likablility point..I worked for someone who taught me the needed skills, when that person left the job and I took over the manager position the entire atmosphere of the office changed. The "manager" was not a very likable person, was demanding and critical, made it hard for everyone in the office. My approach was one of working "with", talking "to" and listening to the ideas of the employees. I am happy to say I had a wonderful and productive working relationship with the entire staff.
During the interview they did tell me that my Resume was impressive but when I received the call after the interview offering me the job, they said they LIKED me!
Enjoyed the article, but especially liked the comment by "MLM"....anyone over 35 knows by now that hiring managers are basing 25% of the interview on your abilities and the other 75% is really based on your likeability and whether or not they think you will blend in with their team...the problem we have today is just getting an interview; companies request you apply online with hundreds of others for the same job and then by scanning resumes they don't get a chance to the fantastic personality which might have gotten you hired in the past
I abosultely agree about being liked. I worked in the entertainment business for 11 years and went through many Directors. I`ve seen people who faired well under one director, (recognitions, promotions, etc) and when that director was replaced with another, those same people suddenly were demoted, fired or left the company. They were not `liked` by the new Director who by this time had picked other individuals or hired the people that he or she liked! I say it again, right time, right place, right person, however when the boss that hired you leaves, that is when you should be concerned about your job.
Seen It All
What do you do to find a job if you have a felony that is not quite 7 yrs old? The thing is it is actually over 14 years old but because it took the authorities so long to find me, not because i was hiding as i didnt even n=know they had filed charges against me. Should I start calling all potential employers and let them know up front what is on my record and then wait for years to be interviewed. I mean i just had a job offerred to me but because of my background check they rescinded the offer. Its so cruel..... What do I do now?
Jessee, any tips to increase the likability during the interview. I have the experience of getting tons of interviews but never landing a job. looking back the interview experience, I have all the skills the job needs and it seems to me the interview was going quite well because the interview normally last 1-2 hours and was interactive. I think I am likable because I work for 5 managers within 4 years (manager changed, I stayed the job), and I got very good performance review year over year.
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