The Interview!

The Interview!

Ever conducted an interview or been interviewed?

It is one of the most popularly used forms of assessment. The simple art of getting to know a person whether from the point of job, general assessment, understanding a situation, or learning about someone's perspective, or without any commonly identified motive, we all have been part of it.

You can always search on types, tips & tricks, and talks on the subject but I am here to share my experience when I got the opportunity to be part of interview as a recruiter of one of the best candidates suitable for the job. The interview started with the most lousy question on earth! Tell me about yourself! Any guesses what he did? He started sharing a story about Mother Teresa. I got confused and interviewer repeated his question. He did not stop and went on. The interviewer intervened multiple times but failed. At last he waited for another 10 and left the meeting, hinting that the candidate was rejected. I, however was just observing this unique incident and kept my thoughts to myself till he finished. I asked him, did you even hear the question? He replied, yes and added "I wanted to share an example of someone I truly admire and whose actions have inspired me." I was taken aback by his response and asked him to continue. As he delved into his personal connection to Mother Teresa's work and how it has influenced his own values and approach to life, I found myself listening intently, completely captivated by his sincerity and passion.

After he finished, I went on to guide the conversation back to his professional experiences and qualifications. It became evident that he not only had the technical skills for the job but also possessed a deep sense of empathy and a strong moral compass, qualities that couldn't be easily discerned from a traditional interview format. I recommended my team but they ended up hiring another candidate.

I realized that his unconventional approach to the initial question had provided me with a unique insight into his potential as a valuable team member and listened beyond the basic response. The more we talked, the more I saw how his personal values aligned with the company's culture and goals.

In the end, he left a lasting impression on me. I recommended him wholeheartedly, emphasizing that his perspective and values would be a great asset to any organization. This experience taught me to look beyond the conventional responses in an interview and to appreciate the power of storytelling and authenticity in truly understanding a candidate.

P.S. This is a personal experience shared.