All jobseekers need to realize is that during every step of the recruitment process there is always a silent interview being conducted.
You’ve applied for a job. If you’re like most jobseekers and if you know the name of the company that you’re applying to, your next stop is probably Google for a lengthy search on the company.
Likewise, as pointed out by previous posts here on EXCELER8ion, your potential employer is also surfing around for a lengthy search on you. They’ll be checking out your MySpace profile as well. And the MySpace profiles of all of your friends.
Let’s assume that you don’t dig up any dirt on your potential employer and let’s also assume that the photos of you that were taken at last year’s Holiday Party were not unearthed. Yet. At this point, if everything is copasetic (your resume is in good shape, your potential new employer likes what they see so far, etc.), the first silent interview is over and you’ll likely be called for an actual interview.
Now the second silent interview begins. It starts the moment you look on a map to figure out how to get to your potential new employer.
Look at where this place is. It’s going to take forever to get there in traffic.
It continues as you drive up and begin to search for a parking space.
Why is there a gigantic lake in the middle of the parking lot?
Then as you sit and wait in the lobby, you begin to scrutinize everything.
Nice lobby. Two chairs and a plant. I’ve been in phone booths that are bigger than this lobby. And I think this plant is dropping seeds on me. This sucks.
On the flip side, your potential new employer is doing the same.
Where does this guy live? Geez. It’ll take him forever to get here in traffic.
Why didn’t he drive though our gigantic lake? Wuss.
Let’s leave him out in the lobby and see how long it takes for him to lose it.
The silent interview continues during your actual interview and through any subsequent offers and negotiations that you might go through. The further you go in the process, the better chance there is of another silent interview on Google to look for more dirt as well.
So remember – the interview doesn’t stop and end at the handshake.
Michael Dragone is an MCSE: Messaging who spends more time exploring technology than even he thought possible. You can reach him over on his Mikerochip blog at http://www.mikerochip.com/.
EXCELER8ion is where Shannon and Julian Seery Gude write on Social Media, Interactive Marketing, Technology and Internet Business Topics. 
4 comments ↓
makes me laugh about the Canadian Headhunter. I think it is that he does not see himself as funny at all. Well maybe that is part of it. Here is his Blogswap Post Here are some others from the last few days: Dennis Smith on The Recruiting AnimalMikerochip on EXCELER8ion Jim Stroud On The Jobster Blog
[...] I just had to share a fantastic post called “The Silent Interview” by Michael Dragone , where he reminds us that “that during every step of the recruitment process there is always a silent interview being conducted.” Employers will look at MySpace, LinkedIn and ZoomInfo. He makes some great points that we may be overlooking and the only thing I would like to add is that for those of you who have not done this already, it is worth not only googling your name, but also doing quite an exhaustive online search for yourself so you are aware of what potential employees are finding out about you. Skeletons may stay in closets but they don’t fare so well on the internet! [...]
Blogroll Project Management Source: Lessons from Project Management: 101 ways to organize your life Project Management Blog SCruminations EXCELER8ion Herding Cats AgileManagement PROJECTIZED A Librarian’s Guide to Etiquette The PM Podcast Technology Architecture & Projects: Project Management
[...] Blog Swap Week 2: Mikerochip?s ?The Silent Interview? Published by Mikerochip July 17th, 2006 in BlogSwap All jobseekers need to realize is that during every step of the recruitment process there is always a silent interview being conducted. You?ve applied for a job. If you?re like most jobseekers and if you know the name of the company that you?re applying to, your next stop is probably Google for a lengthy search on the company. (Exceller8ion) [...]
Leave a Comment