by Jacqui Wendling - Office Administrator
As the interviewer, when you walk into the reception area to meet a job candidate, you are usually greeted with their best possible behavior from this point on through the interview. Did you know that your front office staff could possibly give you a different perspective, one you might never have noticed, on this potential new employee?
As a front office person, whether the receptionist or office manager, we get those job candidates for five minutes of unscripted and unpracticed time while they wait for their chance to impress you. That time when they are not on the ‘hot seat’ and have their guard down can be very significant.
Why would this be important? The mannerisms of the candidate when dealing with the receptionist could be indicative of the way they may treat other employees, clients or members when hired. Someone disrespectful of a female receptionist could cause issues with female members, clients or staff members, while those who tend to flirt and invade personal space could be a walking human resources nightmare. A person refusing to make eye contact or small talk could either be hiding something or may not have the self-confidence it takes to be successful in the job. A late potential employee who calls to give warning is more acceptable than someone who just shows up late. It is the front office personnel who get to see what this person is like before they put on their interview face.
Want to make the most of those first five minutes? Engage your front office staff in the process. Ask them to observe the candidate and take mental notes of their interactions. Encourage them to make small talk and see if the interviewee responds or simply ignores. For example, to each DelCorian hopeful, I say the same thing to see if I can elicit a response: Can I get you some coffee, tea, water, chai tea, latte, espresso, hot chocolate, cappuccino? Most people are ready for the first three offerings, but if they are really paying attention, the latter will at least make them pause. At this point, most will chuckle, begin to make small talk, or will simply say no and ignore me until someone more important comes around the corner. The reaction to this one sentence can say volumes about a person, their comfort-level, their self-confidence, and most importantly...their sense of humor.
Listen Up!
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We often give talks at conferences or workshops, come see us and learn a bit more about technology in the nonprofit and association marketplace. Here is where we're speaking next:
- Reston Idea Swap: Roadmap to Creative Social Media for Your Association
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 to Wednesday, February 01, 2012 - Progress U. - On Cloud 9
Thursday, February 09, 2012 - Upcoming AV & Technology Innovations In The Meeting Industry
Thursday, February 16, 2012 - The Seven Dwarfs Of Social Media: Enchanting Your Audience
Sunday, February 26, 2012 to Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - View all events...
- Who needs talk radio? Eavesdrop on Craig Sorell, a project coordinator at the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and KiKi L'Italien, DelCor's senior consultant in social media and member communities, as they chat about trends in the association industry. They get together for the Association Cocktail Hour biweekly, but you can listen any time!
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