Attraction Information

The Likeability Factor - Do You Have It?


Growing up, we all had a mental picture of the perfect life partner The person we thought would be our happily-ever-after -- a person with a perfect smile, beautiful eyes, and an adorable button nose. Fast forward to reality and who did you wind up with?

Chances are that if your partner of choice happens to be male, you ended up with a guy who is shorter than you expected, has less hair than you anticipated, but overall is a pretty neat fellow. And if you're interested in women, chances are that the woman you ended up with isn't as curvaceous as you dreamed, but overall is a very special person.

The truth is that no matter what you envisioned, you bought into what your partner was offering. Although he or she didn't meet all of your set criteria, they met the most important one -- they are good people -- and that is why you chose their companionship.

When it comes to hiring decisions, recruiters aren't any different. Realizing that one candidate isn't going to meet all the criteria in the job description, the recruiter buys into the person as a whole -- not one characteristic, accomplishment, or degree. After all is said and done, hiring decisions, for the most part, are based on whether or not the candidate is likeable.

What most don't understand is that likeability is more than the knack for getting others to hang out with you after work and share a couple of beers. This is why most interviews are challenging. Not only do you have to demonstrate that you are technically capable of doing the job, you must go a step further and impress the recruiter with your professional makeup -- that is, your ability to be assertive, focused, and versatile.

Assertiveness

When done right, assertive behavior is a nice balance between self-assurance and cockiness. This attribute can be a driving force during an interview because the person sitting across from you can't help but be drawn to you, and therefore begins to respond to your ideas, thoughts, and words. Coming across as assertive leaves the listener the impression that you are confident in who you are as a professional; and that attribute wins job offers.

Focus

Believe it or not, most interviewers dislike going through the motions of hiring, just as much as candidates dislike going on interview after interview. For this reason, a huge part of a successful interview is based on your ability to focus your responses on results. In doing so, you bring clarity to the conversation and help connect the dots for the interviewer. This is an important point because there are times when interviewers don't fully understand how your marketable skills can easily transfer to the open position.

When the interviewer begins to buy into your experience, you automatically become more appealing, and -- in the eyes of the interviewer -- the most qualified candidate.

Versatility

Interviewers seek candidates who have a broad perspective and aren't stuck in their way of doing things. Individuals who are versatile are natural-born achievers and are recognized for being forward thinking, flexible, and resourceful. These attributes interest organizations since the candidates who are adaptable will more than likely flourish in any circumstance.

Too often, job seekers overlook the likeability factor. The reason? It's always easier to lay the blame on a hiring manager than to take a personal inventory of how you are affecting your job search. Though it is true that sometimes hiring decisions are based on factors beyond your control, there are occasions when it comes down to whether or not you made a positive first impression.

About The Author

Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is president of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers' Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

National Geographic

Fatal attraction in the Gulf Male pipefish kill their eggs
Houston Chronicle
At first blush it may seem as though there's a women's lib thing going on with sea horses, pipefish and sea dragons, three of the handful of ...
Male pregnancy and abortion: The sex life of pipefishAFP

all 35 news articles »


Panther Prints: Jersey Shore is this summer's biggest attraction.
my.hsj.org
MTV is a magnet for teenagers watching television. Their shows always spark controversy, and are filled with fights, partying, and teens who are too rich ...

and more »


FOXNews

National Leprechaun Museum Opens Its Doors in Dublin
FOXNews
Tourist attraction that claims to be the world's first-ever leprechaun museum is dedicated to the mythical mischief-maker of Irish folklore. ...

and more »


Free sightseeing tickets prove a big attraction
Xinhua
Tourists from the US led the applications from overseas, with 2695 applicants from the US applying for the free tickets to 58 of the city's attractions. ...

and more »


The great Wall of Kentucky a star attraction
Denver Post
His is the NCAA Tournament's biggest name. John Wall is the best player on arguably the nation's best team, and he will be try to be the ...

and more »


Norwich Evening News

New tourist attraction for Norfolk
Norwich Evening News
Families will be able to experience a taste of the Broads in more than one sense when a new tourist attraction opens at the end of the month. ...

and more »


The Guardian

Dalit queen Mayawati's fatal attraction at rally
The Guardian
The moral for aspirant politicians, whether Indian or not, is clear: If you are going to paint the town blue and flaunt a garland made of banknotes, ...

and more »


ESPN.co.uk

Big Buck's the star attraction
ESPN.co.uk
The third day of the Festival sees the staying hurdlers take centre stage with the World Hurdle and all eyes will be on Big Buck's as he bids to repeat his ...

and more »


Fatale Attraction
Syracuse New Times
Cruel, heartless men have been a specialty of playwright-filmmaker Neil LaBute. In The Shape of Things, however, the shoe is on the other foot, ...



TopNews United States

Laws of Attraction : A New Finding
TopNews United States
A research carried out by the University of Aberdeen has revealed that women hailing from countries that have lower health records prefer men with masculine ...

and more »

Google News

Index | Site map
© 2009 VirBooks  Home
PLAE  | Solar System