Daily Musings of an HR Professional #8

Saying "I can do anything" is the most troublesome response

I hear this sometimes when conducting interviews.

"I'll do anything."
"I don't have any particular preferences."
"I can handle whatever is necessary."

These are positive and appreciated words.

However, as an HR professional, it's a bit troubling.
That's because I wonder if they really mean anything at all.

As the hiring side, we want you to work for as long as possible.

That is why I want to know what you want to do.
What are you good at?
Conversely, what are your weaknesses?

If possible, I would like to know those things.

But when someone says,
"Anything is fine,"
I have to probe a little bit.

Are you okay with sales?
Are you okay with administrative work?
Are you okay with transfers?
Are you okay with busy seasons?
How about relocation?

The more I ask,
"Yes, that's fine"
is the response I get back.

That's amazing.

If you really are okay with everything, that's quite reassuring.
But everyone probably has something.

Things you are bad at.
Things you want to avoid.
Things you value.
Things you won't compromise on when working.

I feel like you don't have to force yourself to make it look perfect.

In hiring, the desire to "look good" inevitably kicks in.

The company side is the same.

We also want to make things look as good as possible in job postings.

In interviews, we want you to think it's a good company.

So, we both stretch ourselves a little bit.

However, if you stretch yourself too thin, it becomes difficult after you join the company.

"The job was different from what I expected."
"I never heard about that."

When that happens, it's not very good for either the individual or the company.

That's why lately, I try to tell them in advance as much as possible,
"It's okay if there are things you can't do."
.

Of course, that doesn't mean you should just say everything honestly.
Since it's an interview, there's some nervousness, and I think it's normal to choose your words carefully.

However, hiring is not a place to look for a "perfect person."
Where can that person best demonstrate their strengths?
I think it's a place for both sides to explore that.

So, if someone says, "I can do anything," I ask them again just a little bit.

"Conversely, is there anything you'd rather not do?"

The answer that comes out then is often more characteristic of who they really are.

#AI #HR #HumanResources #HRWork #FutureOfHR #HRProfessional #Recruitment #MidCareerHiring #Recruiter #HiringActivities #Interview #Interviewer #JobChange #Career #WorkStyle #HRCommonOccurrences #HROrganizationalPracticePhilosophy #Diary #Essay #DailyMusingsOfAnHRProfessional