Interview and fit. It is one of my favorite topics to discuss. Sad, I know.
But, recently I was talking to a friend of mine about each, interview and fit. He had interviewed for a Director role and felt it went well.
Shortly after our call, he learned he did not get a second interview. Fit was cited. He was upset and angered. I told him there are two sides to an interview. Sometimes, the sides do not agree on how well the interview went.
He told me he was tired of getting the initial interview and not getting to the second interview. He said he might stop applying for roles, tired of being rejected.
He has a point. He has years of hospital experience at the Director level. On credentials alone, he fits Director competencies. He has been through more Joint Commission surveys than most in healthcare. He has managed through shutdowns and layoffs. He has managed paltry budgets and challenged AEC teams.
So why is he not getting second interviews? Fit. This got us to talk about the differences between Then and Now.
He is old school. He says if you ask him a question, he will give you an honest answer; if you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question. I know what you may be thinking; no, he is not politically or culturally insensitive. But he is definitely old school.
If you ask him a question such as how he would handle an employee who is continually late, he might first tell you “I am a no BS guy, we have a job to do.” Then he would say “if the employee can’t fix it, we will handle the issue within the progressive discipline established by the organization.”
You may not like that answer. But you would like his approach when you have to fix a broken steam system at 2 am on a cold winter’s night. Or when CMS shows up at your door.
As I told my friend, the words you use have to be more measured these days. And his reply? I am not going to change who I am.
I support that. You can’t be who you aren’t, and if you try to fake it, you will fail. But you may have to change the strength of the words used in today’s world. That is reality.
Convey effectiveness and accomplishment through the use of more subtle words. At least during the interview process, until people know you and appreciate the skill and humor you bring to the role.
Fit is amorphous. The term BS is not, it is direct, creating a very distinct image. Interviewing is a balance. Be true to who you are, but be careful of the words you use. Your fit is assessed by your words. It is all the organization you are interviewing with has to go on. They don’t yet know you.
Changing employee demands and sensitivities have impacted the management selection process. You may be the most qualified and still lose. Interview and fit.
Is that fair?
G/MA Nuggets
1) Check out the Gosselin/Martin Associates Career Hub!
2) See the roles we are recruiting for here.
3) Follow us on YouTube.
4) Listen to our latest High Reliability podcast “You can’t know everything.”