One of us was visiting family in Nebraska this past weekend, and we ended up at Beer Barrel Days in Prague. Not to be confused with the other Prague, this one is pronounced “Pray-gh” and has a population of 292.
There was a car show, live music, a beer garden, and, because Prague is known for its Czech heritage, plenty of kolaches. We’d never tried one before, so we walked up to a table selling the round pastries and asked the young girl working which flavor she would recommend.
She said, “Well, I actually don’t like them.”
Out of all the possible responses, it was probably the last one we expected from the person standing behind the table trying to get festivalgoers to spend $2 at her stand. The exchange was hilarious in the moment, but if she had shared the most popular flavors or suggested a few worth trying, honesty still intact, we would have been much more excited…and she probably could have convinced us to buy more than the one random Bavarian cream we walked away with.
It got us thinking about a question we hear often as we continue growing our own team: “What’s your favorite part about working at Spherion?”
It is a simple question, but the answer can say a lot. Candidates notice when someone lights up while talking about the team, shares a meaningful example, or can clearly explain why they have chosen to stay (sorry to those who have had to listen to us answer this question and probably got more than they bargained for, what can we say, we love what we do). A genuine answer gives them a glimpse into the culture that no careers page or list of benefits ever could. They also notice when the people interviewing them struggle to come up with an answer.
That’s why everyone involved in the hiring process should be prepared to talk about what they genuinely value about your team. You do not need to give everyone the same talking points. In fact, we strongly advise against it. Ask them how they would answer it. Maybe it is a special tradition for work anniversaries, colleagues who make sure everyone has a seat at the table, or a team that listens to your ideas while continuing to challenge you to make them even better. Maybe it is the opportunity to keep growing, take on more, and advance professionally. The responses will not sound the same, but everyone should be able to give candidates an authentic reason to feel excited about joining your team.
If you are looking for a job, add this one to your list of interview questions (and yes, you should always have questions). Then listen carefully, not only to what people say, but to how they say it. The people already inside the company know what it feels like to work there, and their answers can tell you a lot about whether you could picture yourself becoming part of the team.
It took a trip to the Kolache capital of NE to remind us that interest is only half the battle. You still have to give people a reason to choose what you are offering. Candidates may come to an interview interested in your job. Your people are what make them want yours.
Until next time,
Your Spherion WI & Northern IL team