The Best Tips For Interpreting And Seeing Beyond First Impressions
February 17, 2016
By Brian Maynor
When we first meet someone it’s natural to expect them to be on their best behavior: impeccable manners; excellent communication skills, and the perfect blend of relaxed, rehearsed responses with sincerity and authenticity, but how do you know what is real and what isn’t?
Interviews and conversations should be focused on seeing beyond the carefully crafted and planned first impressions people want you to see to adequately assess how they will perform after the hiring process.
Avoid making a hiring mistake where all of the highest credentials and pedigree can’t compensate for a lack of interpersonal skills in the real office environment with a few simple tips:
1. Weigh behavior over traits. Resumes, cover letters and personal testaments are full of buzzword adjectives like ‘team player’, ‘creative’, and ‘enthusiastic’, but instead of focusing on the words; look for how they are put into action. When a candidate talks about their accomplishments and successes listen to see if they share credit with team members, or subordinates, or do they focus solely on themselves. Remember adjectives are great for pitching oneself, but actions are better for judging them.
2. Learning from failure. Discussing a failure is a pretty standard interview question, but most interviewers fail to properly assess the response. The question has absolutely nothing to do with the failure itself, but whether or not the candidate learned from it. The key is determining if discussion shows ownership and growth following the experience, or is simply a string of explanations and excuses.
3. Managing conflict. If you’re looking for a candidate who can be a team leader, how they describe their least preferred coworker will give you a huge insight to their ability to resolve conflict and manage people. Simple labels, like difficult or micromanager, are very different from complex and interpretive assessments like, we often disagreed because we have different backgrounds and training techniques.
4. Nonverbal cues. Strong handshakes and correct posture are necessary professional tools, but nonverbal cues don’t stop after an introduction. Assess behavior while someone is listening or thinking, not simply when they are responding to questions. Also pay attention to how they interact with support staff. Avoiding eye contact when listening to someone, crowding personal space, and smiles that attempt to mask a sneer are warning signs trying to mask themselves as confidence.
Whether you’re conducting a brief informal assessment or lengthy interview process finding the right fit is all about filtering information and distinguishing between what is relevant and what isn’t. It’s easy to be taken in by well-manicured first impressions, but dig a little deeper to ensure the substance is as attractive as the surface.
Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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