Likeability Factor – The Ultimate Weapon To Get You That Dream Job

Likeability Factor – The Ultimate Weapon To Get You That Dream Job

Are you having trouble with finding a job?  Are you blaming hiring managers, recruiters or supervisors when you don’t get that dream job ?  Yes, I am talking to you.  When was the last time you took a step back and took a good hard look at yourself?  Today’s recruiters often look beyond your qualifications to see if you and the organisation will be a perfect fit.

Usually it’s the candidates that are adaptable, forward thinking and versatile that usually get hired.  These candidates know how to bring the likeability factor to the table.  The likeability factor is exactly how it sounds.  Its not rocket science, the simple question is are you a likeable person?

According to Tim Sanders, former staff leadership coach at Yahoo! and author of the book, The Likeability Factor: How to Boost your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life’s Dreams, “Every person alive has an L-Factor, which is the indicator of how likeable you are. Every one of us is either likeable or unlikeable.”   Likeability is the “ability to create positive attitudes in other people through the delivery of emotional and physical benefits.” If you are highly likeable, you are apt to bring people joy, put them at ease and give them what Sanders calls, “a big psychological hug.”

If you are not sure, ask yourself the following simple questions:

Do people/workmates like to be around you?

Do you hear more positive feedback from your peers than negative?

Do you like people/workmates, yes, because most people can tell when you don’t like them and respond to the way you feel about them?

Are you assertive without being cocky?

Are you versatile or adaptable?

Are you a forward thinking?

If you answered yes to most of these questions then you have a certain amount of likeability.  If you answered no to most of the questions then we have a lot of work to do – however it might take more than this article to get people to like you.  But when faced with unemployment you need to have all the right tools in the box to get you that dream job.

If you want to take a more detailed test take Sanders’ L-Factor Self Assessment (click here to download a PDF of the assessment) and see just how likeable you are on a one to ten point scale. If you score three or below, Sanders suggests that you need vast improvement. Four to six is average while seven and above is good.  Don’t panic if you don’t achieve a perfect score of ten – very few people attain a ten.

The following are the ways to increase your likeability factor when interviewing for a job:

• Be assertive without being arrogant, this will help the interviewer know whether you have the right leadership qualities or not.
• During interviews be focused on the questions being asked and answer clearly with confidence so that the interviewer can ascertain if you have the right qualifications and personal characteristics that the job requires.
• Show that you are innovative and that you will bring something different to the organisation or if you have no innovation, show that you are a forward thinker and adaptable.
• Be sincere when dealing with recruiters and all people in all walks of life, you never know if the person will be a customer on a later date or sitting in front of you interviewing you for a job
• Last but not least value people you come into contact with and they will value you