Got a Job Interview? Kindness Can Help.

Follow These 6 Kindness Steps for a Competitive Interview Advantage

Yasir Moore was just 15 years old and he was about to go for his first job interview.  It was with Chick-fil-A in Raleigh, North Carolina.  His mother insisted that he wear a suit and tie, which would have been fine, except Yasir didn’t own a tie. 

On his way to his interview, he stopped at the local Target, planning to pick up a clip-on tie.  There was just one problem.  Target didn’t sell clip-on ties.  And Yasir had no idea how to tie a ‘regular’ tie.

Watch this heartwarming video to see how 3 Target employees came to his rescue, not just with a tie, but with an interview coaching session that landed Yasir the job:

You may not have three amazing Target employees who practice kindness ready to prep you for your job interview.  But that’s ok.  If you understand and practice kindness, you will have a competitive advantage in your quest to get the job you want.  And you will be in a better position to determine during an interview, if the company offering the job is the place you want to be. 

You Know You Are Qualified, but…

When you are applying for a job, you know you are competing with others who have similar ‘hard skill’ competencies.  You may think that your skills are a perfect match for the job description.  But guess what?  Other people who are applying for the job think the same thing.  It’s hard to stand out with skills alone.

Do You Have These Soft Skills That Employers Want?

Employers are looking for your ability to use ‘soft skills’.  This has become even more valid since the pandemic.  There has been more job stress and companies have struggled to manage remote workers, material shortages, and social distancing.  Can you demonstrate these soft skills?

·        communication

·        time management

·        adaptability

·        problem solving

·        leadership

·        growth mindset

·        collaboration

·        active listening

·        emotional intelligence

Kindness is Key to Soft Skills

According to research, KINDNESS plays a key role in each of these soft skills.  Hiring managers are looking for people who demonstrate kindness and compassion and can work well with others.  In pandemic and post pandemic times, there has become even more awareness of the importance of kindness. Companies are looking for individuals who will be a good cultural fit.  Kindness is essential to creating cohesive, effective teams.  Kindness used to be associated with weakness, but ongoing scientific studies are showing that kindness can be powerful.  Kindness doesn’t mean that you can’t make tough decisions, it just means that you make and deliver those decisions with compassion.

Study of 51,836 Leaders

A Zenger Folkman study tracked 51,836 leaders, learning that the leaders who exhibited the most warmth were also the most effective. 

“If you're seen as low-warmth, you have something like a 1-in-2,000 chance to make the top quartile of effectiveness as a leader,"

said Loran Nordgren, an associate professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School.

Follow This 6 Step Kindness Practice to Give Yourself a Competitive Advantage

1. Pre-interview Prep

Before your interview, think about (and write down) acts of kindness that you have done, both in the workplace and outside of work that exemplify the characteristics of the soft skills employers are seeking.  An easy way to do this is to write down the 9 soft skills, leaving a few lines between each one.  Next, write down a specific example of how you used kindness and compassion in each of these areas. Spend some time thinking about each situation, the impact that your actions had on others, how you felt and the resulting outcomes.

2. Pre-interview Self Talk

Before you walk into the building for your interview, take two or three deep breaths and think about someone or something that you love.  Then tell yourself, “I am going to be kind to myself and kind to ‘name of interviewer’ during this conversation. 

3. Lead with Kindness

When you arrive at your interview, be kind to everyone you see.  Greet the receptionist, ask his/her name and ask an open ended question such as, “You must meet a lot of people in your role.  How long have your worked for ‘company name’?”  You can follow up with something like, “Where are you from originally?”  Many interviewers will ask the receptionist for their impression of you, because they want to see how you behave outside of the interview. 

When you first meet the interviewer, look them in the eyes and greet them by name.  Be kind to your interviewer.  Let them know that you have been looking forward to meeting them and having a conversation about the company, the team, and the role you would be playing there.  Keep stress low by focusing your kindness on the interviewer.  Science shows that kindness has been proven to reduce stress by reducing the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol, which can increase your heart rate and blood pressure.    

4. Continue with kindness

Throughout your conversation with the interviewer, think about the stories that you wrote down about how you handled situations with kindness.  Thread those stories into the conversation so the interviewer can visualize what it would be like to have you as part of the team with the company.  Remember to be an active listener – be in the moment and really listen to what the interviewer is saying rather than just waiting to jump in with a response.

If the interviewer asks you,

“Are you kind”,

it’s a perfect opportunity to respond with, “Yes. I work on being kind.  I’m not perfect by any means, but I believe that kindness is powerful.  It helps me make better decisions because I try to really listen to what people have to say and even if the decision is a difficult one, kindness helps me make those decisions with compassion.  I have found that, the more I practice kindness, the better my relations are with others.”

5. Questions about kindness

If kindness is one of your core values, then you want to work with a company that has that same value.  You are looking for the company’s ‘soft skills too!  So be sure to ask the interviewer for some examples of kindness in the workplace. 

6. Finish with kindness

As the interview comes to a close, take a minute to summarize the key points of the interview.  This helps you confirm what you heard and also lets the interviewer know that you were actively listening.  If you feel positive about the company and its values, then tell the interviewer.  Here’s an example:

“Thank you for helping me get a clearer understanding of the position as well as the core values of the company.  It sounds as if “company” has a positive culture.  That’s important to me.  I know how important it is to make the right decision about filling this role.  I believe this would be a good place for me to help make a difference.  What is the next step in the decision making process?”

You’ve Got This

If you’re in the job market and actively interviewing, you’ve got a big advantage by understanding and using kindness.  Kindness will reduce your stress, help you engage more effectively with interviewers, and give you an edge over other candidates.  Follow this easy, 6 step process and you’ll be on your way to success, thanks to kindness. If you know someone who is interviewing, feel free to share this with them. It’s the kind thing to do!

May your life be filled with Kindness 💜

Heather Johnston Brebaugh

Read my bio, background and quirks.

You can also click here for an archive of my other articles on Practical Kindness.

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