All things being equal, companies hire people they like.

Obviously, skills are important and you are not likely to get a job just because youre nice if you dont appear able to do the job.

But given a qualified candidate who comes across as likeable and an equally qualified candidate who gives the hiring manager the impression that they are going to be a problem, the hiring manager will undoubtedly hire the likeable candidate.

It seems fairly obvious to state this but the question is really:

What makes one person come across as likeable and another person come across like a jerk?

Some people are just naturally likeable and immediately come across as such.

Some people give the impression of being aloof especially if they are quiet or detached and are perceived to be socially inept and as a result, not likeable.

Some people are good actors and can appear to be nice when they want something.

The point is that you make an impression during the interview process and the people you interview with make assumptions based on how you act and what you say.

When interviewing, always remember the following:

1. The hiring manager is determining not only if you can do the job but if you have the personality to get along with the other members of their group.

2. Being overly talkative during the interview might make you come across as being desperate or aggressive.

3. Being too quiet during the interview might give the impression that you are distant and aloof even if youre not. This is an especially important point if the job youre interviewing for requires a talker.

4. Nobody likes desperation. If you appear really enthusiastic to the point of being desperate, most good interviewers will notice. No one wants to hire a desperate person. Enthusiastic, yes. Desperate, no.

5. Understand the difference between confidence and arrogance. One of the biggest turnoffs for most hiring managers is arrogant interviewees. On the other hand, you need to be confident of your abilities and you need to sell yourself during the interview. Walk a fine line between exuding confidence and arrogance.

Likeable people are those who act naturally and let their true personality shine through.

Likeable people dont try to be something they are not and they are comfortably confident but not arrogant.

Carl Mueller

My name is Carl Mueller and I'd like to thank you for learning a bit more about me!

I feel that I have numerous relevant experiences during my career that come in useful when helping people with their careers:

I know what it?s like to work internationally, having worked overseas (in New Zealand, from 1994-1998).

I've survived several corporate downsizings while many of my colleagues were being laid off.

I have also experienced being laid off twice myself during corporate downsizings.

I know what it?s like to be self-employed.

I've helped many people find better jobs. I started to work as a professional recruiter in 2000 first as an Information Technology (IT) recruiter and then in general recruitment across many industries including IT, manufacturing and marketing. Since this time, I have helped many people find their dream career and it?s a great feeling.

I experienced one of the slowest hiring periods in recent memory especially during the general hiring slowdown that followed the Y2K frenzy in 1999, the bursting of the dot com bubble in early 2000, and then the employment market bottoming out following September 11, 2001.

These were certainly not great times to be a job searcher in most industries nor was it a particularly good time to be a recruiter.

Following this, I began running the day to day operations of an Internet-based company in early 2003 that focused on developing online software and subscription-based websites for consumers. It was then that I fully realized the power, usefulness and potential of the Internet which really spurred me to set up my own website which you can view in my Personal URL section below this bio.

I?m also a Platinum Ezine Articles Expert as recognized by EzineArticles.com, one of the most visited websites on the Internet. This special designation is earned by having consistently high-quality articles published and viewed on their website. All of my submissions are related to helping you find your dream career and many of my articles get reproduced on other websites by their webmasters.

Good luck with your career and I hope I have been of assistance to you!