"We don't care about your skills, we just want the right personality"

worldsending

Have other people been in interviews where you were skilled, qualified, and experienced for a position but the focus was more about being the "right personality"?

I went for a job where my skills and experience would normally be considered desirable. However, on turning up, they made it clear that thse were not so important as being the right kind of person. They were extremely informal, very chatty, asked about my personal life circumstances a lot, who I knew in the industry, even where I lived exactly which seemed a little intrusive.

This is not the first time this has happened. It's discouraged to talk about your professional training or abilities. Your reactions are tested with little tasters and tidbits. They are very interested about your hobbies and what you do outside of work. You get things like "This is about getting to know the 'real you'." If you show lack of knowledge about something, they aren't bothered, but they get easily offended if you avoid questions about your personal life.

OK yes companies can employ whoever they like, no question. And yes having a positive attitude is absolutely essential. You can employ who you like, the same as you can work for who you like. People should be allowed to have their own choices.

But your personality is not much of your choice. So why should it be an employment factor? And if it isn't, should companies be allowed to advertise these jobs like this?

Takeaway_Addict

worldsending wrote: »

Have other people been in interviews where you were skilled, qualified, and experienced for a position but the focus was more about being the "right personality"?

I went for a job where my skills and experience would normally be considered desirable. However, on turning up, they made it clear that thse were not so important as being the right kind of person. They were extremely informal, very chatty, asked about my personal life circumstances a lot, who I knew in the industry, even where I lived exactly which seemed a little intrusive.

This is not the first time this has happened. It's discouraged to talk about your professional training or abilities. Your reactions are tested with little tasters and tidbits. They are very interested about your hobbies and what you do outside of work. You get things like "This is about getting to know the 'real you'." If you show lack of knowledge about something, they aren't bothered, but they get easily offended if you avoid questions about your personal life.

OK yes companies can employ whoever they like, no question. And yes having a positive attitude is absolutely essential. You can employ who you like, the same as you can work for who you like. People should be allowed to have their own choices.

But your personality is not much of your choice. So why should it be an employment factor? And if it isn't, should companies be allowed to advertise these jobs like this?

Your personality is absolutely your choice.

elsien

Nope, never had it happen. Not to that degree anyway. Out of interest, what jobs are you applying for where you are finding this happening - smaller family businesses?

[Deleted User]

If you're not going to fit into a team, there's little point in hiring you.

LilElvis

worldsending wrote: »

Have other people been in interviews where you were skilled, qualified, and experienced for a position but the focus was more about being the "right personality"?

I went for a job where my skills and experience would normally be considered desirable. However, on turning up, they made it clear that thse were not so important as being the right kind of person. They were extremely informal, very chatty, asked about my personal life circumstances a lot, who I knew in the industry, even where I lived exactly which seemed a little intrusive.

This is not the first time this has happened. It's discouraged to talk about your professional training or abilities. Your reactions are tested with little tasters and tidbits. They are very interested about your hobbies and what you do outside of work. You get things like "This is about getting to know the 'real you'." If you show lack of knowledge about something, they aren't bothered, but they get easily offended if you avoid questions about your personal life.

OK yes companies can employ whoever they like, no question. And yes having a positive attitude is absolutely essential. You can employ who you like, the same as you can work for who you like. People should be allowed to have their own choices.

But your personality is not much of your choice. So why should it be an employment factor? And if it isn't, should companies be allowed to advertise these jobs like this?

Of course your personality is a major factor - as a manager, team worker, ability to stay motivated whilst working solo. Lots of people might have the qualifications and experience to fill a role, but not all will work well within some organisational structures.

trailingspouse

There's a phrase that's been around for a while - recruit for attitude, train for skills. In other words, take on the right sort of personalities and train them in the skills they need.

If you want someone to work front of house in a high-end restaurant, you need someone who is confident, welcoming, not phased by £100 bottles of champagne. You can train them how to wait table.

Maybe in your line of work, the skills are easy enough to come by, it's the personality that's harder to find.

NeilCr

It’s perfectly possible that all the other interviewees were equally skilled and qualified for the position.

I used to do a lot of interviewing (as an HR rep) and the person’s personality was important to most of the people I interviewed with. Many of them headed and/or worked in small teams and were keen for the right “fit” with their group. Obviously, they had to be able to do the job - but, beyond that, I’ve been in situations where the the best qualified applicant on paper wasn’t appointed.

Indeed, I did just that myself when filling a vacancy in my office. The top ranking candidate was an arrogant person who would have clashed with the rest of the team so we went for someone else

And I got the job there myself in similar circumstances. On my first day my new boss said she had picked me because of my sense of humour and the fact that she thought I was someone she could work with

Gavin83

I’d say personality/fit is as important as knowledge/experience. If you clash with other people you likely won’t last long in the job. Hobbies probably aren’t as vital but they’re probably just trying to work out who you are. I expect different jobs have different requirements, I’d expect the type where you have to meet a lot of people to focus on personality more.

Savvy_Sue

I can still remember the last set of interviews I was involved in: one person was relentlessly cheerful and chatty, would have driven me round the bend to have to share an office with them. Another was painfully quiet. And the one we appointed might have appeared a bit dour and even grumpy but they've worked out well!

worldsending

elsien wrote: »

Out of interest, what jobs are you applying for where you are finding this happening - smaller family businesses?

The complete opposite - larger and more powerful companies who have the budget to offer good salaries. The field isn't interesting.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Diamandis

I think I'm starting to see the problem here. ��