“Humane” Interviews?
Can job interviews be more “humane”?
I regularly hear from job seekers that they want to be genuine and authentic when they are job searching, but find that the ways in which some employers set up the interview process leaves them feeling like they have to put on perfectly polished persona and do their best salesperson routines.
So, when I saw a blog posting about “Humane Interviews” from Jessa Chupik, a career coach who is a former recruiter, I was really excited.
She describes an interview panel who, instead of intimidating candidates, or being distant or overly formal, were welcoming, warm, and genuine. By being genuine themselves, they let the candidates know that they were important, and that the interview was not a gruesome exam, but a pleasant conversation for learning more about them.
This “humane” approach seems to have created an environment that helped interview candidates be more genuine – and I can only guess that it must have been a pleasant and effective way for both parties to get to know each other better, and assess whether there was a good fit.
Humane Interviews – love that idea!
Have you had experiences with “humane” interviews? Did they allow you to feel more comfortable and authentic?
I personally think that your next book should focus on how employers should
change their methods of recruitment!
Jessa - that’s a great topic for a book - I would love to look more into that. I’ve certainly heard from employers that many are also interested in a humane and authentic way to connect with possible employees. I think, at the core, we are all looking for the same things - now it is just about how to do that!
What a concept! Being honest in order to encourage other people to be honest. Isn’t that what we want from job candidates… and from ourselves? Seems like a perfect solution…
The only time I could see a conflict-driven interview being helpful is when the job itself is very conflict-oriented.
Thanks, Cathy.
Wow. Humane Interviews. Its been a long time since I interviewed for a job and I’ve certainly had my share of good and bad ones. I think it would be revolutionary if we could get all employers to this place
(I agree Jessa, Cathy’s next book should start the humane interview revolution!)
However, even if most employers fail to adopt this technique, I still think your post indirectly raises a great
point for applicants to keep in mind. The interview process is a reflection of what an organization
will be like to work for. So if authenticity is what you’re looking for, keep an eye open for it
while you’re interviewing. The interview process isn’t a one-sided sales pitch for them to “buy”
you, its your opportunity to check out when they’re offering and see if its a place you want to be.
Thanks for the great post Cathy! I hope to witness the humane interview revolution sweep across
Canada and the US!
Thanks for all these comments - I would love to see a humane revolution in all things job search sweep our world!