Will the #HumTohHainLikeThis approach win you that coveted job?
The soft drink brand 7UP is airing a commercial on the theme- #HumTohHainLikeThis. It depicts a beauty pageant the contestants are asked what they would do if they win the contest. One after the other, they utter ‘I will work for the society’. Finally, contestant 12 smiles and admits that after dyas of starving herself for this contest, she would eat a plate full of Rajma Chawal along with a chilled 7UP. The judges really appreciate the honesty displayed and she wins the contest
Let us move quickly from reel to real life @ cajobportal where we work mostly on lateral recruitment mandates.
Last week, one of our candidates got rejected in the final round at a USD 1bn$+ company. The heinous crime she committed was her response to the question ’Why do you want to change your company?’ Her response was ‘For growth prospects and better pay’. Her brutal honesty literally riled the senior executive. If she can change this job for better pay, she will soon start looking for another job. The interview coaches advocate flowery answers like ‘I want to learn’, “I want to spend my lifetime at this company’. Candid answers like ‘I am frustrated with my existing boss and thus want to change’, ‘My current employer takes loyal employers for granted and thus want to grow in CTC’ are strictly forbidden.
There are multiple situations where we the #HumTohHainLikeThis approach succumbs to practical diplomacy.
Even if a job posting in a company is for Mumbai, during interviews, candidates must answer in affirmative the question ‘Are you willing to be posted anywhere in India’? If not, you are rejected.
In our Chartered Accountancy space, students are seen vying for that coveted Articleship at a Big 4. When asked in interviews about their motives, they will spin stories about why they wanted to work with a PwC since the day they entered the course, that they are inspired by their uncle etc. No one would have the guts to admit that ‘I want to get the brand so that I can encash the same in the job market, 3 years later, when I qualify as a CA.
Similar are the answers to the ‘Tell me your weakness’ question’. You must admit a harmless weakness.
The dilemma is of wide import in academic as well as personal life.
During at a premiere B-school, one of our team members was asked why he wanted to join the 1 year MBA. Now the honest answer to this could be ‘campus placements’ – else why one would quit a decently well-paying job, take a 25 lac education loan and become a student again. But again, professors want to hear answers like ‘I want to experience the classroom, learn management concepts, interact with batch mates and grow as an individual. Similarly IT professionals cannot admit that they no longer like ‘Service Delivery’, are tired on going on-site and thus are frustrated.
Similarly during the elections for ‘Placement Committee’ every candidate pitches that he/she wants to work for the batch, is willing to compromise on academic grades, slog late nights etc. The altruistic motives are presented with such visible conviction in the eye. It is just like politicians wanting to serve country during election rallies. Yes, there are people who really are sincere in intent, but what about the rest.
In storied history of relationship and dating, you can never tell a beautiful girl that you are after her because of her looks. ‘I only go for inner beauty’ is the motivation statement that can win you her go-ahead. Telling her post marriage that she has turned fat can land you in the starvation island. You seem to have grown a bit healthy, a bit plum is safer
For argument sake, let us complete the loop and also consider that there is a school of thoughts which rather advocate the opposite. Two surveys conducted by the London Business School and the University of North Carolina concluded that of those candidates hired, those that thrived at their new jobs were those who self-reported honesty about their capabilities, interests, and tendencies on job interviews. [1]
Probably there are no perfect answers to the million dollar question – ‘How honest and open should you be in interviews?’
No wonder, the search query yields 65 million results on Google
Summing up, follow the #HumTohHainLikeThis approach at your own risk
[1] http://www.vault.com/blog/interviewing/to-tell-the-truth-is-honesty-the-best-policy-on-a-job-interview