Being judgemental is the one personality trait that is being frowned upon heavily across the world of today. We are expected to have the ability to not form opinions even inadvertently. That's definitely a good thing. Because the underlying logic is that, we don't know the person, we don't know what they went through and what got them embroiled in the situation which attracts the judgements of others.
However one paradoxical practice which the society has accepted with open arms is "Interviews". A panel of an elite clique of highly adept individuals that hover over you for a period of 10-30 minutes, judging how good you are for the job in question. Their job is to judge you in that limited time frame, to judge whether you are fit for the job, to judge whether you have got the prowess that the job demands.
Don't you think its unfair? Of course, I do believe in the concept of "Survival of the fittest" and that the best have to be culled from the rest of the world. But what about those who are actually deserving of the job and are probably a level higher than the set expectations and they don't make it because those 15 minutes don't do justice to them.
I mean, there are so many different ways an interview can be botched up. Or you think you nailed it, but the truth is that they were not impressed. Very rarerly does one go through a satiating interview experience, and that rarity is otherwise called Luck. I don't mean to attribute everything that the one that gets through an interview has achieved to luck but the stars should be in your favour for you to make it.
There are many reticent people, who have the genius brains inside them but are let down by their verbal inabilities or their proclivity to excessive trepidation in the presence of an intimidating panel. Yes, you have to learn to fight your handicaps to surpass the veil that lies between you and the job. There are people who try hard and attend mock interviews. But that one day, is the deciding factor
Let me list down some typical scenarios
1. You get asked questions you weren't prepared for
No one can know everything about anything. Levels of knowledge regarding the same thing vary from person to person. With these two implicit shortcomings, one can never master the technical rounds of an interview unless luck plays cupid between you and the job. You and your interviewer should ideally have the same level of knowledge for you to be able to answer anything that he may ask. You end up not getting the job.
2. You exude an air of diffidence
You answer all the questions right. You know you have given them what they wanted. But there's that one glitch. You were not confident. You seemed very unsure of whether you've made the right impression. And that kind of attitude doesn't sell in this office. You end up not getting the job
3. You exude an air of over-confidence
You answer all the questions right, some wrong. And when the interviewer tests you "Are you sure about that ?", you confidently stand by your answer. Unfortunately, that answer is wrong. This kind of attitude is not right for this office. This kind of a person will tenaciously hold on to his standpoint and not be a good team player. Nor will he accept his mistakes. You end up not getting the job.
4. You are overqualified for the job
Your profile is illustrious. You have achieved a lot. This Company cannot do justice to your prowess. You end up not getting the job. I mean, when you apply for a certain position at a Company, the interviewers are supposed to assume that you are aware that this job maybe a stepdown for you but that you are still willing to have a go at it. They should respect that
5. While we find your profile very impressive, we curently do not have openings to match your profile.
- I'm sure all of you have heard this, or read this on mail
6. You don't have enough experience
Now a fresher has to swim in troubled waters all the time. He needs that fillip, that first job so that he can make mistakes and learn. The Companies think- Okay why do I need to hire a little kid and pay him to make mistakes. Mismatch again. You end up not getting the job
7. We are currently facing a dearth of vacancies
Then why call us :\
8. We will call you back/The HR will get in touch with you
This leaves you hanging in the balance. Should I wait for the HR to call/mail me or should I go on with my interview spree?. Well, as most of you know , the ugly truth is that if you don't get a call back in two days, you're never getting one. Guess what, you again end up not getting the job
Of course, if someone performs badly, leave them out. The point is, when one applies for a job, they are most likely sincere about it and find the job profile befitting. The nervousness, the over-confidence, the floundering, the reticence botch many interviews but the inner talent goes unnoticed. People unable to overcome their nervous ticks soon, lose out in the rat race. Not everyone has grown up in the same ambience and has had the same privileges and hence not everyone can ace the verbal, technical and the other aspects of an interview. I know of so many people, who are the best at what they do, but haven't made it into their dream jobs because of the interview obstacle. Maybe if one proves that they are sound technically, and can communicate decently, a chance can be given because I'm sure they are going to get better. Outright rejection has led to a large scale of unemployment, or ever worse, a situation where people are stuck in jobs that they don't deserve.
Interviews do require application of judgement. It cannot be helped. But if you do see that spark in someone, hire them. They will improve. A chance, is all one asks for.
However one paradoxical practice which the society has accepted with open arms is "Interviews". A panel of an elite clique of highly adept individuals that hover over you for a period of 10-30 minutes, judging how good you are for the job in question. Their job is to judge you in that limited time frame, to judge whether you are fit for the job, to judge whether you have got the prowess that the job demands.
Don't you think its unfair? Of course, I do believe in the concept of "Survival of the fittest" and that the best have to be culled from the rest of the world. But what about those who are actually deserving of the job and are probably a level higher than the set expectations and they don't make it because those 15 minutes don't do justice to them.
I mean, there are so many different ways an interview can be botched up. Or you think you nailed it, but the truth is that they were not impressed. Very rarerly does one go through a satiating interview experience, and that rarity is otherwise called Luck. I don't mean to attribute everything that the one that gets through an interview has achieved to luck but the stars should be in your favour for you to make it.
There are many reticent people, who have the genius brains inside them but are let down by their verbal inabilities or their proclivity to excessive trepidation in the presence of an intimidating panel. Yes, you have to learn to fight your handicaps to surpass the veil that lies between you and the job. There are people who try hard and attend mock interviews. But that one day, is the deciding factor
Let me list down some typical scenarios
1. You get asked questions you weren't prepared for
No one can know everything about anything. Levels of knowledge regarding the same thing vary from person to person. With these two implicit shortcomings, one can never master the technical rounds of an interview unless luck plays cupid between you and the job. You and your interviewer should ideally have the same level of knowledge for you to be able to answer anything that he may ask. You end up not getting the job.
2. You exude an air of diffidence
You answer all the questions right. You know you have given them what they wanted. But there's that one glitch. You were not confident. You seemed very unsure of whether you've made the right impression. And that kind of attitude doesn't sell in this office. You end up not getting the job
3. You exude an air of over-confidence
You answer all the questions right, some wrong. And when the interviewer tests you "Are you sure about that ?", you confidently stand by your answer. Unfortunately, that answer is wrong. This kind of attitude is not right for this office. This kind of a person will tenaciously hold on to his standpoint and not be a good team player. Nor will he accept his mistakes. You end up not getting the job.
4. You are overqualified for the job
Your profile is illustrious. You have achieved a lot. This Company cannot do justice to your prowess. You end up not getting the job. I mean, when you apply for a certain position at a Company, the interviewers are supposed to assume that you are aware that this job maybe a stepdown for you but that you are still willing to have a go at it. They should respect that
5. While we find your profile very impressive, we curently do not have openings to match your profile.
- I'm sure all of you have heard this, or read this on mail
6. You don't have enough experience
Now a fresher has to swim in troubled waters all the time. He needs that fillip, that first job so that he can make mistakes and learn. The Companies think- Okay why do I need to hire a little kid and pay him to make mistakes. Mismatch again. You end up not getting the job
7. We are currently facing a dearth of vacancies
Then why call us :\
8. We will call you back/The HR will get in touch with you
This leaves you hanging in the balance. Should I wait for the HR to call/mail me or should I go on with my interview spree?. Well, as most of you know , the ugly truth is that if you don't get a call back in two days, you're never getting one. Guess what, you again end up not getting the job
Of course, if someone performs badly, leave them out. The point is, when one applies for a job, they are most likely sincere about it and find the job profile befitting. The nervousness, the over-confidence, the floundering, the reticence botch many interviews but the inner talent goes unnoticed. People unable to overcome their nervous ticks soon, lose out in the rat race. Not everyone has grown up in the same ambience and has had the same privileges and hence not everyone can ace the verbal, technical and the other aspects of an interview. I know of so many people, who are the best at what they do, but haven't made it into their dream jobs because of the interview obstacle. Maybe if one proves that they are sound technically, and can communicate decently, a chance can be given because I'm sure they are going to get better. Outright rejection has led to a large scale of unemployment, or ever worse, a situation where people are stuck in jobs that they don't deserve.
Interviews do require application of judgement. It cannot be helped. But if you do see that spark in someone, hire them. They will improve. A chance, is all one asks for.
