How can I convince an interviewer that I’m going to stick with the company of hired?
I am applying to a job, and the interviewer has vocally expressed that he thinks I am too good for the job (based on my resume experience) and that I will get bored and probably leave the company quite quickly. A reason for his cautiousness is that the last person he hired for the role quit after 6 months.
There a wealth of reasons and ways you can approach this topic. To name a few: Directly ask the interviewer how you may address concerns as applicable to you specifically, and inquire why the former employee left the position after 6 months. There are specific and tactful ways to inquire (e.g., Inquire why there is an open position; ask "on average" what the turn over rate is among employees; does the position and company provide opportunities for advancement (get specifics), etc.). Generating an opportunity to openly dialogue is one way to express expectations from both you and the interviewer. It's also helpful to provide examples of areas of interest that meet your long-term career aspirations. Emphasize specifics of each of the aforementioned, as well as how they may be or are interrelated. . .augmenting your work ethic.
Keep in mind an interview is not solely about what a company desires, but whether the position and company suits your personal attributes and goals also. It's a two way street requiring trust and reliability on both sides. . . establish that upfront. You may discover a lot of things that are not conducive to your development, ideals, or building reciprocity.
Employers usually look at your employment history on the resume to check if your a job hopper but if they've been burned before it's going to take more convincing.
As a hiring manager for over 20 years, I know that there is always a risk that an employer assumes when hiring new applicants, that they may not be able to attract qualified applicants. If an employer verbally states during an interview that he has concerns that new prospects may not "stick", then there appears to be some insecurity on the part of the prospective employer. I cannot help but wonder what their reaction might be if you were to express concerns that their compensation package may not contain sufficient "glue" to create enough interest for you to "stick" with them. Their insecurity may stem from a disparity between lofty position KSA expectations and an inability to offer a salary conducive to the skills sets they are wanting (or needing). This is a common hiring issue and requires an ability for an employer to be brutally honest about self-evaluation and finding a workable compromise between what they need and what they are willing to pay for.
As an applicant you must also perform your own due diligence when committing to an interview. You are also tasked, in the interview, to be conducting your own evaluation of the company and gauging their professionalism and your prospects for upward mobility. The atmosphere of the interview should also merit a great deal of your attention. The overall "flavor" you get from the interview should be positive and one of mutual respect that leaves both parties with a firm impression of it being a mutually beneficial relationship.
Unfortunately, the impression I get from your interviewers questions/concerns send up some red flags that indicate to me that if you decide to enter into employment with this company, it may not be a relationship that is a professionally healthy one for you and will probably be very one-sided. None the less, I do wish you good luck!
Respectfully, Jim M., CFM
Hi Sophia,
Although you're sure what the job requires of you (get that information). The only way to be sure you may like it is if you go down to the job and ask for someone who could show you what's expected of you daily. If you've been out of work for a minute for whatever reason, make sure the interviewer knows that. The only way to know if you aren't wasting time for the both of you is to check what's required of you on a daily. Goodluck on your endeavors Sophia.
this is a good question. I'm wondering if you can work some kind of penalty into the job offer if you leave before a determined timeframe.
Hi Sophia,
If you are truly excited about the opportunity, tell him that. You can tell him how much you respect the company and that you aren't looking for a quick "pit-stop", but rather a company you can build a career with. Make sure you reinforce the idea that you are committed to the company and your main focus is to be in an environment where you can continue to learn and work with great people. There's a lot of other things you could tell him, but I hope this helps.
Good luck!
-Mark
I say don't limit yourself or tie yourself into making any commitments without trying out the job. Avoid presenting yourself as someone desperate for the job (even though you feel like you are). Let them make the choice to hire you because your the best candidate not because the can lock you into some long-term commitment.