ideal candidate #4 personality

Generic is not the way any of us wants to come across during an interview. And, “The Ideal Job Candidate” series has concentrated on how to be ideal, not generic. We’ve covered how to focus on skills that led to your college degree, how to get professional experience and transferable skills. Now, we can finish the series with the cherry on top: personality.
Employers don’t throw personality assessments at you or ask what your hobbies are to make you uncomfortable. They’re looking for candidates that will fit in at the company and be dependable in any situation. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that showing your personality will help the interviewer remember you. Here are three ways that you can let your personality shine through the tough interview questions:
• Why you applied for the job? The answer to this question can speak multitudes about you. Make the question work in your favor by giving a specific answer. For example, saying that you applied for the job because you believe the company is a good company will not help you. Instead, think of an advertisement, product or observation that stood out to you – “I enjoyed the billboard ad you created for X company. I believe it represents the company in a true way, broadcasting the fundamental values. Actually, one of the reasons I developed an interest to work here is…”
• Create connections between you and the company – Your educational and professional experience will always come into question at an interview, but it is your duty to cite the right experiences. Choose experiences that show you’ve learned a skill/knowledge, a successful project you completed or any situation where you handled a problem appropriately. Make sure the experience aligns you with the company’s interests and goals. It also helps to be able to tell the experience in a memorable fashion.
• Broadcast what you like – Are you interested in fitness or sports? Are you interviewing for an agency with a niche in lifestyle? Well then, say so! In a situation where your interests overlap with the company or the job description, it will help to delve into your personal life a little. Your side interests can give you a leg up amongst job candidates because it can show a variety of personality traits that are vital assets to a company. You show dedication by saying you’ve played a sport for over five years or strong initiative if you’ve put together an exercise program for a youth club.
And of course, there are times when you can insert too much personality into a job interview. Your interviewer doesn’t need to know that you frequent the clubs every Friday night or that you recently got out of a relationship. Be sure to use relevant experiences or transferable skills with a direct application to the job. Not only that, but it’s important to keep in mind the job description and the company as a whole. Showing your personality also gives insight on how you mesh with the company and its employees. Trust that your personality will help find a job suitable for you.
The job series aims to show that your job search can see more success by tweaking how you present yourself. A job candidate cannot simply shove resumes and portfolios in front of recruiter after recruiter. The key is to align what you have with what the business needs. How are you a potential asset? Remember to focus on the four pivotal points employers fall back on: educational background, professional experience, transferable skills and your personality. These are the important factors in the hiring process.
And with that, we wish you the best in your job search. Remember, we are always looking for talented people! Follow us on Facebook where, from time to time, we post casting, internship and job opportunities.