Trick or Treat? Distinguishing One from the Other

During Halloween, children knock on doors and wait for someone to answer them so that “Trick or Treat” can be shouted and candy given/received. Kids dress in costume and visit neighbors’ homes, and although they scream trick or treat, no one expects to get tricked. Really, all we want is the treat.

Let’s take a look at this concept from a different perspective… Employers and their expectations when it comes to hiring the right type of candidates and determining if they will be Tricked or Treated after making a hire.

Most people, when looking for employment, know that during the interview process you have to dress the part of a highly qualified candidate. This is a costume of sorts. We put on our best costumes and make ourselves look like someone employers would want at their company.

After the interview process is complete, if someone is offered a job, employers expect the candidate’s demeanor and work to reflect the attitude, behavior and skills portrayed during the interview. This determines if the company was tricked or if they’ll be treated by the new addition to the team.

While employers hope to avoid being tricked by interview/job candidates, there are always bad eggs that slip through the cracks. Here are a few tips on how you can minimize this from happening…

1. Ask questions that relate directly to the position – Usually we ask all candidates some “general” questions, but let’s not continue to follow that pattern. If you’re hiring for a teacher position, make sure your questions are teacher-focused. “Do you think class sizes impact the effectiveness of the lessons” or “Do you have examples of lesson plans you created.” Specific questions can gauge candidates’ abilities.
2. Try to include current employees in the interview process – No one knows the real duties/requirements of a job better than someone that is in the environment already. Their feedback could be valuable in determining who might thrive in the work culture.
3. Check out candidates’ social media presence – People are usually the most honest when engaging with people that they know… Find out how they talk, interact and feel about certain things before you hire them on.

Companies expect their HR staff to distinguish the tricksters from the treaters, but sometimes tricksters slip though, and that’s just reality.

If you really want to avoid being tricked, determining how you distinguish one from the other may be the key.

Good luck, and happy Halloween! Trick or Treat!

Cornelius Booker is a senior member of the Regional Navigator team and a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelors in Marketing and later received his M.B.A with a focus on Business Marketing and Management. With his personal experience and passion for the disabled community, Cornelius’ insights are an invaluable asset to the Workforce Solutionsorganization.