Likability can go a long way in a job search
No doubt there is some clinical phrase or term that describes people who just have to be liked. Some people will go to incredible extremes to ensure that they are liked. Most psychologists most likely will agree that this is not the healthiest of conditions.
Yet, likability is a major driving force in the job search.
It’s not unheard of for one candidate to be chosen over another simply because the hiring manager liked that candidate more than the others. This “like” factor has been known to trump other qualifications such as experience, referrals, etc.
Even outside the job search arena, you’ve probably heard the phrase that people like to do business with people they like. We knew a home builder who consistently paid premium prices for the furnaces he installed in the homes he built simply because he “liked” the salesman from one particular company.
Is it little wonder that your chances of getting hired hinge in no small part on whether or not your interviewer likes you?
Of course the reverse is true as well. You may have walked out of an interview not caring if you get the position or not simply because you didn’t like the interviewer.
Some people call it chemistry, and maybe it is. Of course this isn’t to say that you won’t be able to land a position unless you “bond” with your interviewer. Being joined at the hip is not necessary to be hired or to have a successful working relationship.
But liking and being liked can go a long way.