Being involved in the recruiting and hiring process at a company can be an exciting time, especially if there’s a good chance that the company will extend an offer of employment to you. It might be even more exciting if you’re part of the hiring process at two or more companies.
However, you must make sure that you don’t “lose your head” in all of that excitement. Keep your composure instead and make the process a positive one, no matter the outcome.
With that in mind, there are four things that companies want during the interviewing and hiring process. By providing these four things, you’ll not only increase your chances of receiving an offer, but you’ll also cultivate behaviors that will serve you well in the future if similar circumstances arise.
Below are the four things that companies want:
- Communication—Company officials want to know what’s going on with you just as much as you want to know what’s going on with them. If something changes with your situation, then you should communicate that as soon as possible. Forgetting to call isn’t acceptable, and needless to say, neither is deliberately withholding information.
- Decisiveness—If the company does extend an offer, be sure to take the time necessary to make a decision. Don’t rush into it. On the other hand, don’t delay making the decision because you believe another organization will offer something more attractive. That shows no respect for the company, and if you don’t respect the company, why do you want to work there?
- Honesty—Keep in mind that you’re basically branding yourself throughout the entire interviewing and hiring process. You don’t want to brand yourself as a dishonest and/or unreliable person. Don’t be misleading in any way and do what you say you’re going to do. Can you blame the company for wanting that?
- Commitment—We addressed this one at length in the May newsletter article. If you make a commitment to a company by accepting its offer of employment, it’s vitally important that you keep that commitment. Using that offer as a bargaining chip to secure a better one from another company is unprofessional and in extremely poor taste. Not the kind of impression you want to leave.
Hiring managers and executives at different companies talk with each other. If you’re dishonest or brand yourself as somebody who can’t be decisive or keep a commitment, that information could be shared. Whatever you do, don’t burn any bridges in your quest to gain a perceived advantage in your career.
That “strategy” could backfire, and that’s something YOU don’t want.