If You Won 50 Million Dollars from the Lottery, What Would You Do and Why?

Today, with the Internet, it is easy to prepare for a job interview, and honestly, I expect no less from candidates; we are all perfectionists. But in my view, interviews that are too well prepared do not make room for the person’s true potential and unique personality.

Needless to say, I look for talents with skills specific to the position to be filled.

But above all, I am hiring a person with soft skills and feelings which I need to evaluate to determine if that person will thrive in our team made up of delightful, complex and colourful people.

Do You Prefer to Cook Main Dishes or Desserts and Why?

What Would You Change About Your Life and Why?

I know these questions can make you uncomfortable and throw you off the scenario you might have prepared, but when you join in the game, our meeting gets so much more interesting. It is no longer about a simple job interview during which you explain that you are the best candidate because you have been able to develop a number of tools in collaboration with a specific team as part of the project X worth xxx million dollars, even US dollars. It becomes a discussion between two human beings during an encounter that might have a very big impact on your life.

A job interview is such an abnormal exercise; how many times in their life do people have to promote themselves like this (and I am not talking about fans of dating apps here)? I realize that this is a stressful encounter because you want to be the best and you are being assessed on your background and accomplishments. It is definitely not a spa day! However, the reason for my unconventional questions is to make this moment memorable and pleasant; I even have the audacity to believe that my goofy questions will make you want to repeat the experience.

Also, you should know that if you are in front of me on D-day, after my review of your resume and a telephone interview, it is because you have successfully made it through 80% of the hiring process. Afterwards, I have about an hour to assess the 20% that is not part of your resume. What is behind the Arial Narrow font and the neat and carefully picked bullets? Your intrinsic personality – your qualities, your interpersonal skills and other things that cannot be dissociated from the unique person that you are.

In Short, I Want to Discover Your Candidate Brand!

Yes, dear candidate; you have a brand just like Synagri has its employer brand. Just like businesses, you need to define your position in the job market and highlight your distinctive qualities. Your candidate brand allows you to stand out from the competition. Here’s a tip: be authentic, because it shows if you are not entirely yourself. The hiring world is not a LARP (life-action role-playing game), unless you are an elf able to cast magic spells (which would be really cool)! In my experience, we can always see a person’s true colours shining through within the 3-month probation period.