Getting your first job interview hinges on how great you look on paper. Getting a job offer depends on so much more than that. You can have the best credentials in the world, but there is a hiring factor you have to pass in order for certain companies to seriously consider hiring you.
Olivia Gold, who manages Social Innovation at Warby Parker, refers to this hiring factor as the “layover test.” When Warby Parker is making a hiring decision, current employees analyze the candidate by asking each other, “Would you be comfortable being stranded in the airport with this person during a layover?” It’s a question that allows the decision-makers to evaluate your likeability and how well you mesh with a company’s culture.
Warby Parker isn’t the only company employing this hiring factor: Shawn Levy, director of the movie “The Internship,” the hilarious comedy in which Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson become interns at Google, said that the layover test is actually part of Google’s interview process as well. “It’s something they actually have in their interview process and it is, at the end of the day, beyond what school the kid went to, beyond GPA, etc.,” he says.
So, how can you show off how personable you are during your interview? Check out our tips below:
Treat everyone as if they have equal weight in the decision-making process. Be kind and professional towards anyone and everyone you encounter during your interview – from the receptionist who checks you in at the front desk to the employees you pass by in the hallway. Prove yourself to be the type of person who treats everyone with respect and who is comfortable interacting with new people.
Get to know your interviewer by asking a lot of questions. It’s no secret that people love talking about themselves. Ask your interviewer questions about why he or she chose to work for the company. Ask about the skills he or she has learned on the job. It will not only help you determine how much your interviewer values the company, but it will also be a great way of connecting with your interviewer right off the bat.
Smile! Positivity is infectious…and absolutely essential in the workplace. Important projects coupled with demanding deadlines can cause office tensions to run high. Your interviewer wants to hire the type of person who can have a positive outlook even during those difficult times at work, so the more you show off your pleasant personality, the more you’ll prove yourself to be a beneficial influence on the company culture.
So, as you’re preparing for your interview, make sure to practice showing off your great personality. The next time employers are thinking about who they would choose to spend a layover with, we want them to pick you!
