The Top Reason You Do Get That Job

As a follow up to my article "A Top Reason You Don't Get That Job," I wanted to share inspiration with you. I gave a few examples of what candidates don't think about as to why they don't get hired. Now a few examples of why candidates do get hired, including the one I think is THE top reason.

We are pretty familiar with the common reasons:

• Referral or reference - It does mean something if the recruiter or hiring manager gains respected insight into your knowledge, skills and abilities. When this comes from a respected source, it does carry weight because those candidates without these referrals are unknown quantities.
• Accomplishments - If you were project manager over a successful implementation, that says a lot about your ability to succeed. Or maybe you saved the previous company thousands of dollars per year. Companies seek those who accomplish what they set out to do.
• Credentials - Those certifications and degrees do matter. Let's face it, recruiters and sometimes hiring managers don't know the details of a particular job, such as software engineering that is focused on a brand new software. So credentials can help prove that you know your stuff.
• Behavioral assessments - Many companies are using these to identify what a degree or reference can't always tell them about you. Examples include leadership ability, ability to work well with others, attitude, ability to sell, philosophies on theft, and work ethic. I was told that I got an HR leadership position once because my assessment was considered best on ability to work with one specific leader and on ability to stand alone to open a new district office. The other candidates had comparable education and experience, so this was used to differentiate. Many don't believe in behavior assessments, yet many do.
• Interviews - Probably nothing I can say here that you haven't already heard. However, being relaxed and being yourself is what I recommend most. And interviewing ties to my top reason below.

Thus far, I have discussed those reasons that we all know about. Even so, many of you have not mastered all of the above. There are books and articles to help, and know that every certification and degree can help you, even though they are not easy or always affordable. Know this....EVERY ONE OF THE POINTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON ONE THING......ATTITUDE.

And my top reason of why you DO get hired is your ATTITUDE.

References - They depend on how you are perceived. A reference is an evaluation of you based on that person's interactions with you. It is their perception of you and your ATTITUDE.

Accomplishments - They depend on your desire to succeed, your drive, yourATTITUDE.

Credentials - How could you gain even one of these without your perserverance? Regardless of what kind of degree or certification you achieve, you have succeeded. You have done what many others don't because you had gumption. YourATTITUDE was one of not stopping until you completed it.

Interviews - Here is where cream rises to the top. Many candidates who have equivalent credentials get separated from the pack during the interview. It isn't necessarily who has the best suit or all the perfect answers, either. I got a job once going to the interview with wet hair and pitiful makeup. I have learned one thing through the years: ATTITUDE CAN TRUMP ALL THE REST.

ATTITUDE can cause a hiring manager to choose the candidate with less experience, pitiful makeup and with a technically poor interview. In my article "The Pursuit of Workplace Happyness," I cite that Gardner was late for an interview, coming in work clothes covered in paint. He got the job anyway, because of hisATTITUDE.

Don't let rain, running out of gas, or any other negative situation cause you to have a poor attitude. You are the only one in control of your attitude. You are the only one who can change it. Don't come across as "poor me" and "I'm not sure I can do this job," or any other negativity. Come across as "I am the one you want to hire," "I can do this job better than anyone else," "I have what it takes, and you won't regret hiring me." Trust me when I say that your words as well as body language tell a story. Your story needs to proclaim that YOU are the one. ATTITUDE is what can separate you from the rest. A GREAT ATTITUDE is the top reason you do get that job.