Let’s be honest, interviews are often awkward and terrifying, but shockingly, they don’t have to be.
CANDIDATES:
In an interview, an employer is trying to determine if you are qualified, capable, collaborative, and hopefully not someone who says “circle back” 47 times a day. In an interview, you are working hard at sounding confident without sounding arrogant, personable without oversharing, and intelligent, while at the same time pretending you didn’t rehearse answers in the shower 14 times that morning.
The truth is that interviews don’t have to feel like interrogations. In fact, some of the best interviews happen when everyone relaxes, and the conversation flows naturally. When this happens, you get to stop giving generic answers to those boring questions like “greatest weakness” and start to show your true self. And honestly, that’s usually when employers learn the most.
Allow your personality to sparkle, answer questions clearly and succinctly, but, most importantly, be prepared, be prepared, be prepared.
EMPLOYERS:
Making the process more enjoyable doesn’t mean turning it into a game show or asking people which kitchen appliance they identify with. A little humour helps. A warm welcome helps. Even acknowledging that interviews can be nerve-racking helps. Create an environment where the candidates feel comfortable enough to think clearly, communicate naturally, and let their personality shine through.
Candidates remember the companies that made them feel human and relaxed during the process. They remember the interviewer who made the conversation feel engaging instead of intimidating. They remember when someone took the time to explain the role properly, answer questions honestly, and make the process feel less transactional and rehearsed.
And here’s the irony: when candidates feel more at ease, you often get better answers, more authentic conversations, and a much clearer sense of fit.
HIRING IS ABOUT PEOPLE
At Media Staffing Inc., we’ve seen firsthand how much better the hiring process works when companies create an interview experience that is both professional and personable. You can absolutely assess skills and qualifications while still allowing room for personality, curiosity, and genuine conversation.
At the end of the day, hiring is about people, and people do better when they’re not sweating through a blazer under fluorescent lighting, wondering if they blinked too much during Question #3. No one does their best while mentally replaying whether they shook hands too aggressively. Lighten the mood, be genuinely interested, and take the time to find out who they really are. Guaranteed recipe for a successful hire.
