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.

---

How To Make Your Dreams Come True

Editors Note: Family Circle Interview (2003) with Dr. Wayne Dyer:Could 2003 be your lucky year - the one in which you fulfill a dream, improve your health, increase prosperity and feel happier?Absolutely, says... Read More

Yes You Can

If you could change one thing in your life today, what would it be? Why don't you have some of the things you'd like to have, and why do you have some? What's... Read More

The Top 10 Roadblocks to Attracting Prosperity and what We can Do About Them!

If it were easy, everyone would do IT; everyone would have IT.That "IT" is prosperity and we're all trying to achieve that stage in our lives where wealth, health, success are a daily... Read More

On Uniqueness

Is being special or unique a property of an object (let us say, a human being), independent of the existence or the actions of observers - or is this a product of a... Read More

What is the Universal Law of Attraction?

Most of the time, we attract by 'default' rather than by deliberate choice. We just sort of go through our day, focusing on problems that need to be solved or on things that... Read More

What Image Are You Projecting?

I want you to think about something for a few moments. Do you have any perception about what sort of image you are projecting? I'm talking about the personal or professional image that... Read More

The Inner Critic Unveiled

Watch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions.Watch your actions; they become habits.Watch your habits; they become character.Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.- Patrick OvertonYou may ask what is... Read More

Who Are You Really?

'Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.'--Doris Mortman.Who do you think you are? When asked 'Who are you?' how do you identify yourself? By... Read More

The Laws of the Universe

What I am about to tell you will take a very open mind to comprehend. So please, open your mind.No matter how our beliefs, philosophies or laws may differ, we are all bound... Read More

Be Not Afraid, Ye of Midlife

Millions of people face huge changes in their lives during the midlife years and most seem to be glad they made the changes, but only if they've faced their own longings for meaning... Read More

Aspirations Worth Their Weight in Platinum

"To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improve as well." - Isaac AsimovNo matter what your goal is in life, be it a professional secretary or the leader of an important association;... Read More

Charm Is Good Business

What's most astounding is that the vast majority of business people don't automatically understand the concept of charm. You'd think it would be a reflex, a conditioned response in business to "turn on... Read More

8 Powerful Tips to a Magnificent Life

Tip #1. Find your purpose. Finding one's purpose is the key to having a happy and successful life. It all starts here. Find what you are passionate about. Find what you enjoy doing.... Read More

Attract Your Ideal Relationship Using the Law of Attraction

First, I'll need to explain what Law of Attraction is and how it works. You see, the Law of Attraction states that you'll attract to your life whatever you give your attention, energy... Read More

How To Bypass Your Conscious Mind and Program Yourself For Success

Emile Cou?, the French psychotherapist once said: "When the imagination and will power are in conflict, are antagonistic, it is always the imagination which wins, without any exception." Then you can program yourself... Read More

Abundance or Scarcity: What Belief Do You Choose to Engage?

For the last several years, I have included on my email signature the following salutation "Peace and Abundance." This is a daily reminder that my success begins with how I engage my beliefs.... Read More

Aspire to Be

Many individuals believe that they have to "live up" to another family member or idol. Some are even envious of famous icons and want to look, act, think and be like the stars... Read More

Self-Concept and Self-Actualization: Nucleus of Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder

In the dynamics of the self-concept and in the tendency to self-actualization are found the primary causes of Shyness and Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia. It seems that these conditions result from... Read More

Talk Your Way to Financial Freedom

Feeling trapped by lack of funds? We can learn from those who live comfortably and retire early. They use language differently from those who are stuck in a scarcity process.1. Banish the word... Read More

Appreciation Attracts Prosperity

Did you know that appreciation is one of the most powerful forces in the Universe for manifesting and attracting prosperity? According to teachers like L. Ron Hubbard (father of Dianetics), Abraham-Hicks and Drunvalo... Read More

How To Use Affirmations To Create Prosperity?

Dear Internet friend. Each human being is an incredible piece of sowtware. Each one of us has been "programmed" in a certain way. This program runs our lives 24 hours a day, and... Read More

7 Ways to Drive a Man Wild

It's unbelievable the amount of bad advice there is out there on how to seduce a man or if they give you advice they forget to tell you how to use it properly.... Read More

Who are You Listening To?

Have you ever noticed that there is no shortage of people willing to give you advice, whether or not you asked for it? I've developed some simple rules about from whom I will... Read More

How to Develop the Genius within You

Inside each one of us there's a seed of greatness, a seed of genius. You are a special and complete human being and so is everyone else. You have a seed of genius... Read More

Your #1 Path to Hidden Power

Imagine that you could boost your confidence, courage, and compassion by 100% in the next three months. Imagine that you could learn five new skills you've been dying to learn all your life.... Read More

Its Your Life - Take Control

If you seem to spend much of your life doing things for other people, if being ordered about from dawn till dusk is a normal component of your life, do something about it.Perhaps... Read More

Paradigm Shift

Good Morning! It's the Island outlaw here again. You know after my little tirade yesterday about Integrity and ethical behavior I felt compelled to speak on the subject of the paradigm shift in... Read More

The Power of Desire - Part 1

What is Desire? Let us see! Webster tells us that it is: "The natural longing to possess any seeming good; eager wish to obtain or enjoy," or in its abnormal or degenerate sense:"excessive... Read More

The Secret of Self Care

Wherever you go, there you are. There's no escaping it - your world is a reflection of you and if the view in your mirror doesn't elicit a certain spark perhaps it's time... Read More