In the spirit of Halloween, what mask are you wearing? When recruiters encounter a new candidate, we are well aware that the initial conversations that recruiters encounter are going to be well guarded by you, the candidate. That is to be expected. However, there comes a moment in the hiring process when it’s time to remove your mask. You must become less guarded and trust the process and the members of the hiring team.
The Skepticism Creeping In
When you are presented with new opportunities as a potential candidate, of course, you are skeptical. Can this position really be as good as a recruiter is sharing? Can this position offer me the opportunities that are being suggested? You as a candidate will obviously weigh the pros and the cons of a new position. Knowing well that these are the perceived positives and negatives since you will never know if they are real or not without taking the position. Once again that mask stays in place. The last thing you want to do is to remove your mask. You feel as though if you show your overexcitement for the position, then you have revealed your hand of cards when it now comes down to the compensation discussion. Or you hold back some of your enthusiasm because you don’t want to oversell yourself for the position in case you don’t get offered the opportunity.
Perceived Vs. Reality: Debating On When To Remove Your Mask
The wearing of the mask in essence becomes your safety valve as you perceive again that the showing of any overexcitement about the new position weakens your current situation when you continue the interview process. I am here to suggest to you that you must remove your mask and share your true feelings about the position with your recruiter. You must let them know what your real feelings about the position are as well as your true concerns regarding the hiring process. By removing that mask, an ideal position will be created for the recruiter to be able to share with the hiring manager. If you won’t accept more than a certain salary then disclose that so no one’s time is wasted. The more that you can honestly disclose during the process, the stronger the end result will be in your favor. Take off that mask and be frank with the team that is trying to hire you (and that includes your future employer).
Keeping It Close & Continuing To Hide…
It’s more than holding back on your compensation needs, it’s holding back on who you are and what’s important to you. Hiding behind a mask in the long run, you may perceive is a strong bargaining point for you as the candidate, but it actually weakens the chance to get hired because your true self is not known. Letting your new potential employer know who you are is going to be much more significant than you think nowadays more than ever. Not sharing your true values and your core beliefs is also a position you do not want to present. Cultural fit is so important – more than I have seen in my fifteen years of recruiting. Remove your mask and let them see who you really are so they can hire your true self!
Conclusion
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About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.