First, a crucial question: “What makes someone personally likable to you?” Naturally, there’s this “chemistry” that sparks an immediate connection between two people. But if that chemistry isn’t there initially, it doesn’t mean that you can’t become likable—you can also create chemistry “manually”! We often grow closer when we discover shared interests during a conversation. Even if you start off disliking someone, as soon as you find a common interest, it’s as if the barriers fall away. From personal experience: a former colleague of mine couldn’t stand our graphic designer. A business brunch was scheduled, and as soon as my colleague saw the designer, the complaining and bad-mouthing started. But when they couldn’t avoid a conversation—thanks to a generous twist of fate—suddenly, there was admiration. The catalyst? FC Red Bull Salzburg! Goodbye to the rational “I don’t like you,” because suddenly, other forces were at play.
If you consciously use this insight, you can unknowingly connect with the human side of a recruiter. The key to success here is research. Just find out what hobbies the recruiter enjoys. Thanks to Facebook, Xing, and similar platforms, this isn’t too difficult. Participants in one of our career workshops tried this out—with success. All reported back that using this method increased their likability. What did they do differently? In their resume, they included the recruiter’s discovered hobby whenever possible. But only the hobby that they could genuinely relate to (whether from past interest, current engagement, or at least being able to discuss it). During the interview, they were almost always asked about their hobby, which made small talk easier and increased likability. One participant shared that the HR manager didn’t mention the hobby, so she brought it up herself, saying she had read that the manager was also interested in hiking. This small talk also enhanced the conversation.
What happens when you “artificially” become likable? Shared interests make us likable, even if only for a brief moment—long enough to leave a positive impression. Keep in mind: You need the interviewer’s likability to move to the next round. You need the likability of the manager because they make the final decision and will work with you directly. Having a shared hobby won’t get you the job alone. However, when it comes down to choosing between two equally qualified candidates, likability will be the deciding factor. Because we’re all human, and 85% of our decisions are made unconsciously! Sorry to those who prefer to be rational, but that’s the truth. And let’s be clear: The hobbies listed should be honest. If you start lying here and mention a hobby just because you read about it and don’t actually care, forget it—the other person will sense it. It’s all about using “native advertising” (when it feels authentic). For those who can’t find a shared hobby, don’t know who the interviewer will be, or are facing an entire selection committee: Let your interests highlight your professional ambitions. And as a general rule, I recommend using the word “interests” instead of “hobbies.”
HERE you can find more great tips from Doria!
