Here's how you can clinch that job on the spot

Here's how you can clinch that job on the spot
PHOTO: Here's how you can clinch that job on the spot

Employers "will make bold bets on people who have an unwavering passion for success", says Mr Bill McDermott, co-chief executive of software firm SAP. In an interview with The New York Times, he shares his views on the importance of knowing what one wants, in order to ace that job interview.

You were the assistant coach to your dad, who trained your brother's basketball team. Did you help with strategy?

Every timeout, my dad would ask for my opinion. And I was always quick to give him one. Sometimes, I had a different play in mind than he had, and he was quick to listen and try it. Sometimes he wouldn't take it but, very often, the debate led to an even-better answer.

What did you do after college?

I believed strongly that I had to work at a company that provides great training, that would give me the professional polish I needed. I wanted to work for Xerox. On the day of my interviews, I told my father: "I guarantee you, I'm coming home tonight with my employee badge from Xerox in my pocket."

So I made it through all the interviews to meet Xerox's district manager. We had this extraordinarily good interview, and he said: "I really enjoyed this conversation, and the HR department will be in touch with you in the next couple of weeks."

To which I replied: "I don't think you completely understand the situation, sir. I've never broken a promise to my dad in 21 years, and I can't start today. I guaranteed him I'd have my employee badge in my pocket before I got home to Amityville tonight."

He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity, then he said: "Bill McDermott, as long as you haven't committed any crimes, you're hired."

So what's the broader takeaway of that?

Two things. First, a lot of people might play the field, or try to figure out what they want. But I knew exactly what I wanted.

Second, you've got to want it more. If you want something badly enough, everybody around you can see the passion. And people will make bold bets on people who have an unwavering passion to succeed or a passion to do something.

Now that you are in a position to hire people, what's your style?

I always try to hire somebody who's got a vision at least as big as mine. The main question I ask is, what do you want? If you ask somebody what they want, you'll know everything there is to know about them. We're looking for people who have clarity about who they are and what they want, and where they want to go.

They should have a keen understanding of how the job they're applying for fits into their personal passions. So I want to know that they've got the talent, the bandwidth, the acumen and the intellectual curiosity to keep getting better. But I also want to know that they really want it.

myp@sph.com.sg

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