In my career I have been on both sides of the interview many times. After hiring many people and passing on many more, there is only one trait that every person I have hired has in their bag of tech interview skills. They are all likeable.
I have hired business analysts, project managers, software developers, engineers, data analysts, and multiple other roles. When I receive a resume for any of these rolls, they mostly get narrowed down by the hard skills they have listed. When reviewing the resume, I ask myself questions like:
- Have they worked with a similar tech stack that we use?
- Do they have a related degree or relevant experience?
- Have they put time into organizing and proofreading their resume?
- Do they seem to take initiative in furthering their career by taking on new opportunities/projects?
Having most of these qualities can get you into a first round interview, but then comes the time to reflect things that can’t be read from a piece of paper. When I hire people, I don’t hire fingers on a keyboard, I hire someone I can work with. Someone who can make my life better by making my job easier, but also who I enjoy speaking with. Many HR professionals refer to this as a “cultural fit” and use buzzwords and phrases such as “work hard, play hard”, instead of being transparent and really saying “do we like you as a person?” This leads candidates to in the interview say things like “I really work hard, but like to have fun too” or “I believe I fit this company because I really like your product”. Anyone can say these things, so you have to differentiate by actually being likeable.
The reality is that the interviewer has to like you as a person as much as they like your skillset. Being likeable is a skill. You should showcase your personality in the interview. Be open and comfortable.
Here are some things to do while in an interview to show that you are likeable:
- Listen as well as you speak. Don’t just think about the next thing you want to say. Listen to what your interviewer says and then respond to their words.
- SMILE! I have interviewed some people who seem miserable because they don’t smile and speak with a flat voice. That’s not someone who I would enjoy seeing in the office at 8AM. Happy workers are productive workers.
- Speak about your personal life. Show you are human. Talk about your family, pets, hobbies. Feel free to mention the concert that you went to, but leave out the part where you got drunk and threw up in the bathroom.
- Joke and laugh. The interview should be a positive experience for everyone. Be careful with this because not everyone has the same sense of humor, so keep it toned down.
Now here are some things to avoid if you want to be viewed as likeable:
- Avoid controversial topics. Don’t talk politics, religion, or anything else where people have strong viewpoints.
- Don’t assume you know your interviewer just because of the area they live in or the company they work for. Your unconsious bias could show through in a negative way.
- Don’t bash your former company or coworkers. Everyone has jobs or people they didn’t like, but mentioning it in an interview will make you seem like a negative person.
- Don’t sit with poor posture. This can make you appear lazy or uninterested, even if you aren’t those things. Remember, interviews are about perception.
Do I believe that being likeable is a way to bullshit your way through an interview? Absolutely not. What it can do is give you the boost over other candidates with a similar or even slightly better skillset compared to you. Remember, people hire people. We’re all human, show your human side.
Special Note: In the days of remote work and remote interviews, if you have the option, take an in person interview if you are serious about the job. If in person isn’t possible, a video call is a good substitute over just an audio call. I know just a voice call is most comfortable for some people, but it is a major benefit to the candidate if they can show their smile and the interviewer can be reminded that there is a human behind the words.
Please leave comments to let me know if you agree or disagree with my tips! Thank you!
