The first skill most interviewers look for in candidates is self-awareness. Work experience and qualifications are definitely important however, they can be gained and learned throughout a professional’s career. 

Self-awareness is a rare trait, as according to research only 10% to 15% of people actually have it. Individuals who are self-aware know their strengths and weaknesses and are more motivated to learn, as they can identify the skills they should work on. They can also relate to their colleagues and managers easier since they are more open to receiving feedback.

How do interviewers check for self-awareness?

The following signs are the most important ones to be noticed during interviews.

• The frequent usage of both “I” and “we” are red flags. 

“I” and “we” should be used in a balanced way, otherwise they show that the candidate is either not humble or did not have an important role in involved projects, respectively. When asking candidates about their roles, it is important that they praise the entire team and not only themselves.

• Candidates who believe that their colleagues would only describe them positively may not be able to respond to constructive feedback.

Individuals who do not accept feedback do not work on improving themselves and the ones who do, always think of ways to achieve it. It is important to ask candidates what they have done to improve and notice their reaction towards self-development and learning. 

How do professionals know if they are self-aware?

• They can not distinguish what they enjoy doing at work and what they do not.
• Most of the time, they disagree with the feedback they receive, no matter if it is right or not. Therefore, their perspective about themselves differs from the one others have for them.
• At the end of a workday they feel exhausted without being able to find the reason why.
• Their team’s strategy and decisions often find them in the opposite direction.

How do professionals build self-awareness?

Paying attention and understanding the reason behind the way professionals work and their contribution to their team are crucial. Specifically, they should:

• Define personal values

Values serve as a guide for all individuals since they reveal what matters the most, what motivates and what demotivates them.

• Identify working patterns

Professionals should write down both the times they had momentum and were achieving goals as well as the times they were not as productive at work. This exercise demonstrates motifs. It might also be helpful to ask for the judgment of a trusted and respected individual.

• Reflect on skills and potential

During an interview, candidates should be confident to speak about their strengths and weaknesses. They should also be able to state the things they do well, the skills they have, the skills they should work on and their capabilities.

By Grigoria Pateraki, Communications Team