Finding the One: Navigating the Interviewing Game

Welcome to the?Executive Eye where we share the latest insights into how the Financial Services profession is reinventing itself to adapt to the post-Covid world.?We hope you enjoy it!?

Read our latest edition below

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Imagine a job interview is like a hot date; both parties try to impress each other and put their best foot forward.

The interviewer is trying to make a good impression with a list of questions to get to know the candidate better.

The candidate has their fancy clothes on, trying to show off their best qualities and answering the questions in the most charming way possible. Both are trying to see if they're a good match and if they want to take it to the next level.

It's a delicate dance, where both parties try to make a good impression but also try to be themselves and show their true colours. The interviewer wants to know if the candidate has the skills, qualifications and personality that would make them a great addition to the team. But on the other hand, the candidate wants to know if the company aligns with their career goals and values and if the team they would be working with is a good fit for them.

During the interview, the interviewer will carefully observe the candidate's behaviour and body language, looking for signs of confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Meanwhile, the candidate will listen closely to the interviewer's words, trying to gauge the company culture and the work environment. It's like a first date; both parties are trying to get to know each other, see if they have chemistry and if they want to take it to the next level.

And just like a first date, both parties will be making mental notes about each other, weighing the pros and cons, and deciding if they want to see each other again. The interviewer will be thinking about how the candidate's skills and qualifications match the job requirements and whether their personality and work ethic would fit the company culture well. The candidate will be thinking about how the company aligns with their career goals and values and if the team they work with is a good fit for them.

Just as meeting a potential partner's friends and family can give insight into their character, subsequent rounds of interviews allow the hiring team to observe a candidate's interactions with other team members and managers and to ask additional questions to assess cultural alignment. This process works to the advantage of both parties, as it allows for a more thorough evaluation of the candidate's fit within the company and ensures that the candidate is happy with the company culture.

And who knows, if all goes well, it will lead to more dates, or in this case, a job offer!

But whether it does or not, both parties have had an opportunity to learn something new and find a better match for themselves.

There are vital lessons we can take from this analogy –

There are two sides to every job interview: the interviewer's perspective and the job candidate's perspective.

From the interviewer's perspective, the job interview is an opportunity to assess the qualifications and suitability of the candidate for the position and to determine if they would be a good fit for the company culture. Accordingly, the interviewer may be looking for specific qualifications, skills, and experience and assessing the candidate's communication skills, personality, and professional demeanour.

From the candidate's perspective, the job interview is an opportunity to showcase their qualifications and skills and to learn more about the company and the position. The candidate may be looking for a job that aligns with their career goals and values and offers growth and development opportunities. They may also assess the company culture and the team they work with to determine if it's a good fit for them.

At the end of the day, both sides are looking for a match for the role and the company in terms of qualifications, skills and fit.

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Look out for our next newsletter but in the meantime, if you are thinking of hiring a Financial Services professional or you are looking for your next step, feel free to personal message me or contact me via our website, where you can book a call www.paulharpersearch.co.uk