Study: Employers Are Looking for Drinking Buddies, Not Qualifications
Employers may be more interested in your ability to knock back a few cold ones with the gang rather than your professional qualifications, says a new study.
According to Professor Lauren Rivera at Northwest University’s Kellogg School of Management, those people responsible for doing the hiring within a company are more likely to hire people that they like, or can relate to. “Interviewers often privileged their personal feelings of comfort, validation and excitement over identifying candidates with superior cognitive or technical skills,” she said. “In many respects they hired in a manner more closely resembling the choice of friends or romantic partners.”
Basically, what this means is, if a job candidate has some of the same interests as the boss, or is at least sexually attractive by his or her standards, that candidate is more likely to get the job than someone who is better qualified.
That's why when it comes to looking for a job, Rivera says it's a good idea to include non-work related interests on your resume. For example, while you may not want to clue potential employers into things like your foot fetish or your admiration for stainless-steel nipple clamps, it might be a good idea to detail your sporting interests as well as the brand of your favorite bourbon.
However, it is wise to be careful not to divulge all of your personal interests, as you never know just who will be doing the interview. While revealing your favorite hobbies, sports and travel might help you get the job, a glimpse into your favorite porn film or sexual position may ultimately be a deterrent.