The Hard Truth for Job Seekers

If you're struggling to move forward in the process after speaking with recruiters/hiring managers, it's likely not for the reasons you think.

It's probably not....
➡️ Your experience
➡️ Your education
➡️ Your credentials
➡️ Your resume

I'd be willing to bet it's how you present yourself on the call/zoom/meeting.

That is, your personality. Your likeability factor.

People will go to the ends of the earth to stretch/bend/adjust to make it work for people they genuinely really like.

How much they like you matters way more than WHAT you know.

Obviously, higher level roles have some baseline of required knowledge, but in general - likeability is your biggest asset (or killer).

Point in case:

I had a client looking for an experienced PL Account Manager a few years ago. I insisted he talk to a candidate who had zero insurance experience. Actually, she was a restaurant waitress/hostess. Know why? Because she interviewed incredibly well. Her personality was AWESOME. She was a natural customer service fit. I loved her and knew that his PL clients would love her too.

On the flip side - There are times where I'm screening candidates for management positions and speak to folks who check every box on paper. But in talking to them, they just aren't someone I can see myself wanting to work with/for, so I don't put them thru. Whether or not I would personally hire someone is always my barometer.

When you're interviewing, the team is trying to picture themselves working with you. If you are are late, arrogant, desperate, disheveled, unprepared, dull, disinterested, have kids screaming in the background (I have young kids too, but YOU chose the call time!), the company is expecting that this is what they (and clients) will experience when working with you.

If, on the other hand, you lack some experience but are super likeable, driven, pleasant and eager to learn - they may determine that they can train for what's lacking and hire you anyway.

YOU CAN'T TRAIN LIKEABILITY and people know this. 😉

By the way - Two years in and that restaurant gal is one of my client's best hires in years. She passed her P&C exam on the first try and is crushing it. Not only do clients love her, but her colleagues do, too - she just brings that good juju to the office and lifts everyone up. ❤️