What is the biggest weakness of a candidate?

Question:
Lori, what's the biggest weakness you see in a typical applicant's interviewing style in terms of things they say or perhaps fail to mention during an interview. Do they tell too much about themselves? Or do they generally not tell enough? Is there a particular quality that interviewers want to see that tends to be missing in some people? We hear that even UPS will occasionally hire someone they feel good about, despite that person's lack of large airliner experience. This would seem to indicate the interview is critical.

Answer:
Weaknesses are as varied as personalities. Let me take your question one piece at a time…

Style indicates repetitiveness…let’s hope this isn’t the case with an applicant. :)
It is really more about delivery. People are so wrapped up in being well received that they forget to communicate. So what happens is that although you know what you are trying to say it isn’t always interpreted the way you mean. The expression “that’s not what I meant” comes to mind.

Generally there are two types of delivery from a candidate:

1. The person so relaxed that he/she shares too much.
2. The person so nervous, guarded or self-critical that he/she doesn’t share enough.

Both are commonplace, with emphasis however on the latter. Most people don’t share enough detail for clear communication. Interviewers are trying to determine what kind of person you are and how you resolve situations. Effective communication becomes vital.

A particular quality that tends to be missing. Hmmm. Well, it’s not about one particular quality so much as it is about who you are as a whole. Interviewers must feel like they have really gotten to know you. They need to feel as if they have a solid understanding of how you think and what type of team player you are. That can be a tall order in a 20-minute interview. Keep in mind that the interview is about YOU, not them. As we prepare for interviews we tend to lose sight of that fact. We become so concerned with “what the interviewers want to hear” that we forget they NEED to see the real person.

One characteristic that will shoot you down every time is attitude. If you are perceived with a bad-attitude then the interviewers will pass…they don’t want to expose their entire labor group to a bad-seed. Keep in mind the old adage: “I can teach you to fly my airplane, but I can’t teach you a personality.”


In recent years airlines have, to their credit, zeroed in on the “core person” and their flying experience in relation to the job function. So, yes several airlines have hired folks who have requisite experience, not necessarily from a large airline, that is in alignment with the job they are hiring for. Majors have hired directly from turbo-prop operators and also those with no Turbine PIC.
We have long since forgotten, but airlines used to hire based on the core personality of the candidate only – regardless if they already knew how to fly. They would then teach them the skills for the job and a career was born.

Yes, interviews are critical, for both the airline and the candidate. Interviews are a big deal – they don’t come around every day, and the dream job is once in a blue moon. Effective communication is the number one element for a successful interview.




Regards,
Lori Clark