Comments on: Authenticity Works for Interviews http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html Hiring technical people and being hired can be difficult, no matter what the economy is doing. Use the tips here to hire better, or find a new job. Thu, 17 May 2012 14:01:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: motor wiper blades http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-6706 motor wiper blades Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:55:36 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-6706 The advice I would give is not “remember to smile”; instead: “actually care about the other person, and your behavior will follow naturally.” The advice I would give is not “remember to smile”; instead: “actually care about the other person, and your behavior will follow naturally.”

]]> By: Brooks Moses http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-6640 Brooks Moses Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:52:10 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-6640 Eugene, I completely agree with you -- but I think you've missed David's point. What David is talking about is not pretending -- it's about showing what's genuinely there already but might be hidden. To talk a clearer example, here's a parallel sort of situation with code reviews. I review my coworker's code, and it's generally excellent but has some bugs. My natural focus is to assume he knows it's generally good, and write a report saying, "It's got these three bugs." What he hears may very well be that I think the code is bad because I didn't say anything good about it -- because I didn't realize that needed to be said. If I use a reminder to say something good in my code reviews, that's not a failure to be genuine. I said this code was generally excellent, and I believe that. So this is just a reminder to make sure I communicate that genuine opinion. Similar things come up in display of emotions, too, though they're can be less easy to describe. I've certainly had situations where I knew I wasn't conveying an emotion that I genuinely had, and made efforts to be more visible about it -- and what happened was better and more authentic communication, just as in the code-review example. Eugene, I completely agree with you — but I think you’ve missed David’s point.

What David is talking about is not pretending — it’s about showing what’s genuinely there already but might be hidden. To talk a clearer example, here’s a parallel sort of situation with code reviews. I review my coworker’s code, and it’s generally excellent but has some bugs. My natural focus is to assume he knows it’s generally good, and write a report saying, “It’s got these three bugs.” What he hears may very well be that I think the code is bad because I didn’t say anything good about it — because I didn’t realize that needed to be said. If I use a reminder to say something good in my code reviews, that’s not a failure to be genuine. I said this code was generally excellent, and I believe that. So this is just a reminder to make sure I communicate that genuine opinion.

Similar things come up in display of emotions, too, though they’re can be less easy to describe. I’ve certainly had situations where I knew I wasn’t conveying an emotion that I genuinely had, and made efforts to be more visible about it — and what happened was better and more authentic communication, just as in the code-review example.

]]> By: Dan Kligerman http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-6357 Dan Kligerman Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:52:15 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-6357 I agree completely--if you can't be authentic automatically, you're not in the right situation to begin with. I think the other side to this coin is enthusiasm: so many people come across as less than excited about the position in question. Sometimes, this is overcompensating for nerves, but it may also be a sign that the job really isn't for you. After all, if it's something you really, really want, you should be automatically pumped up, not to mention authentic. I agree completely–if you can’t be authentic automatically, you’re not in the right situation to begin with. I think the other side to this coin is enthusiasm: so many people come across as less than excited about the position in question. Sometimes, this is overcompensating for nerves, but it may also be a sign that the job really isn’t for you. After all, if it’s something you really, really want, you should be automatically pumped up, not to mention authentic.

]]> By: Eugene Nizker http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-5805 Eugene Nizker Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:54:39 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-5805 to David A. David, We in IT deal with pretty smart people. Pretending is not going to work for more than 10 secs (if that). To me, i'd rather see genuine behaviour (whatever it is) than vain attempts to show a feeling that a person doesn't have. I lose trust very quickly if i see this. Everyone does, i believe. So, to me "practicing authenticity" sounds stupid because we should not "practice", we should "be" what we are. This helps build trust, which is absolutely necessary for having a valuable discussion during interview. My 2c. Truly, Eugene Nizker to David A.

David,

We in IT deal with pretty smart people. Pretending is not going to work for more than 10 secs (if that). To me, i’d rather see genuine behaviour (whatever it is) than vain attempts to show a feeling that a person doesn’t have. I lose trust very quickly if i see this. Everyone does, i believe.

So, to me “practicing authenticity” sounds stupid because we should not “practice”, we should “be” what we are. This helps build trust, which is absolutely necessary for having a valuable discussion during interview.

My 2c.

Truly,
Eugene Nizker

]]> By: David A http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-5803 David A Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:06:43 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-5803 However, mare introvert folks people might not show their thoughts and feelings, which can mislead their audience or interviewer into thinking that they don't care. They may need to make more effort to project themself - which takes practice. It's like taking your driving test - it's not enough to check the mirror - the examiner has to <em>see</em> you check the mirror. However, mare introvert folks people might not show their thoughts and feelings, which can mislead their audience or interviewer into thinking that they don’t care. They may need to make more effort to project themself – which takes practice.

It’s like taking your driving test – it’s not enough to check the mirror – the examiner has to see you check the mirror.

]]> By: Stephen Gross http://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/2010/01/authenticity-works-for-interviews.html/comment-page-1#comment-5801 Stephen Gross Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:58:45 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/htp/?p=1142#comment-5801 The notion of "learning how to be authentic" is really quite silly, eh? The advice I would give is not "remember to smile"; instead: "actually care about the other person, and your behavior will follow naturally." --Steve The notion of “learning how to be authentic” is really quite silly, eh? The advice I would give is not “remember to smile”; instead: “actually care about the other person, and your behavior will follow naturally.”

–Steve

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