For the first time, I’m sitting on the side of the table that asks the questions. The side of the table that, without trying and without wanting to, makes nervous hands shake and unsure voices weak. It’s really a place fear-mongers should never be allowed to sit in, because they’d have too much power.
As I mentioned yesterday, we’ve certainly had a fair amount of good candidates (more qualified than unqualified). This got me thinking on general trends I’ve noticed in the group I’d deem “good interviewers.” I haven’t come up with a guide to interviews, far from it. It’s just some pointers I jotted down over the last couple of days.
First and foremost, good interviewers possess a general confidence in their abilities that permeates our conversation. None of the candidates have had any experience as credit agents, but the best candidates at least make you believe they’ll be able to learn (“I don’t know it yet, but no one knows everything. I know I’ll learn.”). This group of candidates makes you believe in them because they believe in themselves and it shows. And potential is very important.
And what about answering the question where you’re asked to talk about yourself? This is a real easy one. If you’re asked that question, make yourself look good. I didn’t know anything about the people I was interviewing and if someones said they were honest, determined, well-organized, and cared about the poor, for the most part I believed them. What else did I have to go on? Someone who’s thinking along those lines, identifying those characteristics, is more likely to demonstrate them than someone who doesn’t mention them when given the chance (or at least that’s my logic). So paint a nice picture of yourself because you might as well take advantage of the opportunity.
I also found myself reflecting a lot on the question of “relevant experience.” There really is no way to get out of this one. If you’ve never showed interest in a field and never worked in it, it’s going to be tough to jump in late in the game. Still, we’ll likely have a med-student hired, which needless to say is not your traditional path into the field of micro-finance. Why is he getting the job? Because he volunteered with at-risk kids in Port-au-Prince (showing the caring side we’re looking for) and while doing it he led groups in capacity building activities (showing he has skills we’re looking for). The moral of the story is get relevant experience anyway you can – you need to show a real interest.
On what not to do: don’t come in with one of those wireless ear-pieces on (a pink one nonetheless) and then leave it on during the meeting.
