There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance
A candidate’s skill set can help them catch recruiters’ attention – but their personality can help them win the job.
While hiring managers look for competencies and experience, 70% put a premium on personality, a study from career advice firm TopInterview and job search platform Resume-Library showed.
In fact, personality surpassed education (18%) and appearance (7%) as factors of a successful job interview.
According to the 200 talent acquisition specialists interviewed, employers love go-getters: confidence topped their list of the most desirable traits in job hunters. They also value:
- Authenticity
- Honesty
- Reliability
- Self-discipline
But there appears to be a limit to the level of confidence a candidate should exude. Recruiters listed arrogance as the least desirable trait, followed by:
- Dishonesty
- Entitlement
- Unreliability
- Closed-mindedness
READ MORE: Why personality types are more important than you think
“The fine line between ‘confidence’ and ‘arrogance’ when making that first impression is everything – one’s personality can make or break an interview,” Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopInterview, told CNBC.
Augustine said hiring managers are responsible for assessing whether a candidate is a ‘cultural fit’.
“This determination is primarily based on how the candidate behaves during an interview,” she said.
Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of Resume-Library, noted how the talent crunch has compelled organisations to be more creative when sourcing and screening top candidates.
“Employers have less talent to choose from than ever before, and this is encouraging them to think outside the box when it comes to assessing candidates’ potential and experience,” Biggins said.
“Indeed, a key part of this is considering how well someone’s personality is going to fit in with their teams, so it’s crucial to stand out for all the right reasons.”
