Being Nice

One CEO reportedly asks interviewees an unexpected question: “Are you nice?” Assuming congeniality is an important ingredient in the job you are seeking to fill, this question is clever on various levels. First, it forces the candidate to consider whether being friendly is important to the employee -- and to possibly seek other job options if this quality is not important to him or her. Second, because the question is so unexpected, it tests the candidate’s ability to answer a question out of left field (even when the candidate has had ample time to prepare an answer in a pre-recorded interview.) A smart candidate will give specific examples demonstrating his or her collegial behavior. A simple: “Yes, I’m nice” won’t earn anyone points. And third, the question makes a strong statement about what the employer values – e.g., a work environment where employees respect each other, don’t fear their superiors, don’t take sick-days because they can’t stand the place, feel free to question decisions that they believe aren’t in the company’s best interest, etc. In short, asking if your candidate is nice may be smart for your business. And that’s nice.