What Empolyers Want But Will Never Tell You

There are many similarities between dating and seeking a new career opportunity.  Interviewing is a courtship in every sense of the word. There is an etiqutte involved, that if violated, will leave you getting a dear john/dear potential candidate letter.  In addition, the rules are seldom ever defined, and finding out what your prospective suitor wants is often impossible to ascertain.

Having successfully performed searches on a national basis for over a decade I have been allowed “behind the curtain” many times by clients.  They often tell me what they really want, what they will and won’t tolerate, and how much subjective vs. objective criteria is really used.

They are seldom candid because they don’t want to jeopardize their own situation.  If they tell you why you are not a fit, then they risk you becoming irate, argumentative, or going over their head.  As recruiters, we are often instructed to tell candidates things like, “they went with an internal”, ” they have surfaced someone out of a competitor” or the like, with the ultimate goal of protecting the feelings of the jilted, and their own careers.

Here are some things that today’s companies are looking for, particulary in the interactive/online space:

1) Flexibility.  You must walk in the door and be comfortable in a fast paced, ever changing environment, where expectations are subject to change.  If you have only worked in fortune 1000 companies, with clearly defined processes, it is incumbent upon you to show how you have been able to adapt to changing circumstances.

2) Dedication: If you walk into an interview and ask about a) vacation b) flex time c) ability to leave early for child/parent care issues, etc. you have blown the interview. Today’s companies want employees that can “plug and play” They don’t want high maintenance, they don’t want absentee employees, and they want someone who is committed more than ever

3) You better be able to back it up.  I have heard from my clients time and time again about interviewees who talk a good game but who can’t demonstrate their accomplishments or successes.  If you are in sales, you better have a “brag book” if you are in marketing, you better be able to speak to new products you have helped get to market, or collateral you have developed, etc. and more importantly, how it has helped the company’s bottom/top line

4) They don’t want to train you.  Deal killer #4 “I am a quick learner”  Say this on an interview and you might as well walk out the door.  We are all able to pick things up quickly, but the person hiring you doesn’t want to be bothered training you.  You better already know the softwares, know the territory you will be selling into, etc if you want to get that job

5)Personality sells.  If you are likable, down to earth, self-effacing, intelligent, well read(at least on the industry you are interviewing in), presentable, you will have a better chance of getting hired.  Deal closer is when the client tells me “I really liked her, she would fit in well with the group”  Deal killer “great background, but I hated him”  doesn’t matter how good you are, if you can’t get the interview to like you to some degree you are out without an offer.

I hope this helps some of you on your job search!