Puzzling People Together
One of my favorite pastimes is trying to figure people out. It’s like detective work. Here are several examples of different ways I’ve pieced people together (all without google).
I just gave a reference for someone and got off the phone with a recruiter looking to place her at a company. Here’s a clue he looks for when hiring people. He asks the candidate to lunch and insists that they drive in the candidate’s car. Why? Because how clean the car is is an indicator for what the desk of that candidate will look like. Neat car – neat desk. Messy car – papers all over the place. For an executive assistant job, a messy car is not a good indicator. For an artist or a web designer, the cleanliness of the car is no matter.
Another friend of mine is incredibly creative. She doesn’t just give birthday parties. She thinks about fairy parties with fairy dust and zip lines. She thinks so big and so different from others I encounter. And she is so determined. So, in my usual style, I ask, “How did you become so creative in your thinking?” Her answer? ”Because we had NOTHING when I was little. (There was no anger or sadness in her voice.) Everything we did we had to make for ourselves or make up.” That answer explained so much.
In another example, while shopping last week, my cashier at Costco was moving like a blur. I have never seen anyone so fast. Here’s the conversation that follows. I ask, “Do you always move this fast?” ”Yes.” “Does this extend to your home and your housework as well?” ”Yes.” She is amused by now. I am in awe. I come to learn that she is the #1 cashier at her Costco – every single week. She had two assistants to keep up with her. One of them went on to say, “This woman (referring to the cashier) has got to be fast, because you should see the hunk she is married to. How else would she keep up with him?” The whole line was laughing by now.
I was once involved in a hire that required a background check. I spoke with the firm conducting the check. Here’s what I learned. If a person has a bad driving record, it generally (not always) will show up in other ways such as bad credit. A person with good credit generally is pretty responsible about their whole life. The person is a package.
Interesting, huh? I love trying to figure out people.
Do you have any clues you use? Any interesting tidbits for helping clue you in to the people around you? Please do share.
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I used to work in HR/ Management, and as a result hired a lot of people. I loved putting together the puzzle by reading between the lines of their answers to interview questions! You could always see the “I’m supposed to say this” answers a mile away, and often the “It’s true, I don’t care if it’s right” answer would be what we actually wanted.
I get the messy car thing! I once was looking for a place to rent and went to see a pool house somebody had converted into a rental cottage. It was within walking distance from the main house, but the landlord had me drive us there to see it. My vehicle was a total mess, and he commented about it as he got in. When we got back, he had all of a sudden decided not to rent the cottage.
Buzzvibe,
Interesting, isn’t it? The car thing really says a lot…
Sarah
Great post! We swap funny HR stories around the office and are amazed at the people who want to work in our treatment center for teens because they have unresolved issues in their own lives. Some of the things people will wear to an interview will give you clues as well. Even if they try to dress up, you can tell how comfortable they are and some women end up showing way too much skin when they dress up. We try to ask different questions to get people away from the “canned” answers as well.
When I was hiring staff, one of the questions I used to ask was to name three magazines they read regularly. What they read in their lesuire time can give you an insight into their personality.
Another friend of mine says she always looks at a person’s shoes – whether they’re cleaned or not, whether they match the overall outfit, etc.
Aussie Locust,
Interesting. I’ve heard of both of those being used. It would make an interesting list if we put this all together.
Sarah
I used to be a staffing manager for a pretty large operation, it required 2-10 interviews a day over a couple years. Of all those, the ones that ended up being the most valuable were the ones that I took a chance on and went the extra mile to get to know and interact with…and to be honest…I’ve experienced the same success with regard to my friends.
Favorite books, authors, speakers, and hobbies tell a ton about people, but the number one thing is finding out what drove them to that interview and what they did to prepare for it (I actually ask). Ambition and need will prioritize someone’s work ethic. Wanting to work at a job is a totally different imperative than needing to work there. I like to know there is a need, even if it’s driven by ambition.
-T
Oh, I’d never get hired. My desk is always a mess and my car is a little cluttered!
I always find a give away is how others talk about other people.
This is all so interesting. I love taking the time to read people also. Sometimes just listening can tell you so much or watching the movements.