Sunday, 3 August 2014

“Is an Employment Interview like a Marriage Alliance?” - Professor M.S.Rao



“In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions.” - Margaret Wheatly Leadership and the New Science


Employment interview is like a marriage alliance! Do you agree with this statement?  Does the comparison appear inappropriate? Here is my explanation:

Most job aspirants especially new job seekers are in a hurry to grab their employment offers. Somehow they want to get into some employment to earn their livelihood, and to have a foothold in the corporate world. It is true that they need an employment and they express their eagerness to the recruiters during their employment interview. Does it work in the long run? Does it ensure longevity in employment?

When you want to have a spouse you cannot blindly date and go for a marriage which mostly proves to be counterproductive. If you get engaged with a wrong life partner, there will be lack of chemistry resulting in divorce. Most times there is a mismatch between cultures and values leading to misunderstandings and ending with divorce. Similarly in the workplace, if you don’t enjoy your work you cannot contribute your best. Therefore, you must choose your passionate areas and check your value system whether it matches with your prospective employer to ensure longevity in association.

At the time of recruitment, the companies look for candidates who are compatible with the value system and culture of the company to make the association fruitful for both employees and employers. They spend a lot of time to reduce their error rate on the recruitment process to recruit the best talent with a cultural fit. It is for this reason several global companies including Google conduct a series of interviews to prospective candidates to check not only suitability, eligibility and capability but also ensure cultural and value fit with the organization. Some of the job aspirants don’t appreciate too many interview rounds and delays. But the companies execute such exercises with an intention to recruit the right talent that matches their needs. It is good for candidates also to avoid getting stressed out in the workplace and dissatisfied with the companies later. Such interviews are conducted with a long view to train the talent to keep them in the leadership pipeline.  When you look at Ross Fowler, the Managing Director, Cisco Systems Australia he underwent 18 interviews before being selected.

Employment interview is like a marriage alliance where the prospective wife and husband come together to marry. If there is any mismatch there will be divorce. In the context of employment, it is like resigning and looking for another employer who fit in with your passions and value system.  If there is any minor misalignment, the company must align to avoid divorce. If it is not possible, it is better to part away amicably.  If there is any change in ideas and insights based on their bitter experience with another employer, the employees can rejoin their previous companies. As far as possible, it is important to align the employee’s value system with employer’s value system to achieve organizational objectives.  To conclude, employment interview is like a marriage alliance. The more you fake, the more challenges you encounter in the company. Hence, be yourself to get recruited in the right company to enjoy your professional life, and to ensure work-life balance.  Remember, it is always the culture and values that take precedence over skills and abilities while choosing your employer.


“Emotional commitment means unchecked, unvarnished devotion to the company and its success; any legendary organizational performance is the result of emotionally committed managers.” ― Stan Slap



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Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2013
21 Success Sutras for Leaders: Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year (San Diego University) Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI




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