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Through the interview process, Asali can determine whether a candidate is a real ‘doer’ or just a ‘talker.’
Omar Asali reveals why ‘smooth talkers’ could cost you the job. (Photo Credits: X)
Omar Asali, the CEO of Ranpak, a $661 million eco-focused packaging company, has recently shared his insights on a critical red flag he observes in job candidates: the pervasiveness of smooth talkers. In an interview with CNBC Make It, Asali warned employers about the dangers of hiring people who are very good at delivering polished responses, particularly, when they know how to self-promote. He thinks such people do not tend to act in the interest of the organisation but for their benefit, leading to problems in the workplace.
Unlike some recruiters who may consider a candidate’s presentability, communication skills and how well a candidate can market themselves, Asali goes for more of the real-world approach. “I’m not hiring people because their presentation skills are phenomenal. I’m hiring them typically because I need certain tasks and certain jobs done,” he explained. This thinking process shows the tendency of many employers nowadays often look for people capable of delivering results and not just people who excel at talking.
Through the interview process, Asali can determine whether a candidate is a real ‘doer’ or just a ‘talker.’ He then challenges the candidates to provide ten words to define themselves. It is a very effective question because the answer is most likely to be honest and does not contain ready-made clichéd phrases. “The more honest they came across — the more sincere they came across — the more I enjoyed the conversation,” he noted. Asali has discovered that a good impression is created by a candidate who can bring themselves to share their stories and who is willing to be vulnerable.
Asali is not the only interviewer who uses questions that have to do with the subject’s self-identity.
For instance, Everette Taylor, the CEO of Kickstarter, encourages applicants to share a moment when they failed or made a mistake. He told CNBC Make It in August that although individuals who lack self-awareness “really struggle” with the prompt, those who acknowledge and accept responsibility for their answer’s flaws show a high capacity for collaboration.
Very few people are completely self-aware and Taylor always tries to better understand his advantages and disadvantages.
“I try to keep my ego at the door. I’m wrong all the time. I have an incredible team that’s super smart and will put me in my place and I love that,” he said.
