Why enthusiasm wins over experience
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We once did a survey to find out what impresses senior managers at interview, that would make them pick one candidate over another. The number 1 reason, by a long way, was ‘enthusiasm’. It’s easy to get hung up on your qualifications, experience and achievements – but don’t forget that when people are looking for new team members, they are also looking at “Will I enjoy working with this person?”
Enthusiasm is also a great risk-reducer. You can train people in skills and give them experience, but enthusiasm cannot be nurtured. Senior people often comment that they’d pick a less experienced person with enthusiasm for the role, over a more qualified person who appears dry. Partly it’s about ‘this person will make my work more fun’, partly it is ‘this person will raise the energy of the team’. But also and importantly, it reduces risk because the manager will think “If this person makes a mistake, they’ll be very motivated to learn from it and to fix it.”
When a manager sees an enthusiastic candidate, in essence they know you’ll step-up to challenges and do whatever it takes to succeed. So one big tip for interviews is to talk about something you are genuinely enthusiastic about – whatever it is – make sure to SHOW them the enthusiastic you.
Conversely, be very careful about complaining or expressing frustration at work – even if you are just talking to a trusted friend, your tone and body language can be seen across an open plan office. Even if people can’t overhear you, or don’t seem to take notice, they’ll still register it sub-consciously.
Experiment today. How much enthusiasm are you showing?
Enthusiasm is also a great risk-reducer. You can train people in skills and give them experience, but enthusiasm cannot be nurtured. Senior people often comment that they’d pick a less experienced person with enthusiasm for the role, over a more qualified person who appears dry. Partly it’s about ‘this person will make my work more fun’, partly it is ‘this person will raise the energy of the team’. But also and importantly, it reduces risk because the manager will think “If this person makes a mistake, they’ll be very motivated to learn from it and to fix it.”
When a manager sees an enthusiastic candidate, in essence they know you’ll step-up to challenges and do whatever it takes to succeed. So one big tip for interviews is to talk about something you are genuinely enthusiastic about – whatever it is – make sure to SHOW them the enthusiastic you.
Conversely, be very careful about complaining or expressing frustration at work – even if you are just talking to a trusted friend, your tone and body language can be seen across an open plan office. Even if people can’t overhear you, or don’t seem to take notice, they’ll still register it sub-consciously.
Experiment today. How much enthusiasm are you showing?