Imagine that you have been going through job postings all day looking for what you feel is the perfect opportunity. After being on the market for months, you've learned a lot about what it is you want and don't want out of your next position. Plus you've been on enough interviews to know that you don't like the feeling of pretending to be someone you're not just to get the interviewers to accept you. You know what you have to offer and you're ready to get to work doing what you do best. All this is going through your mind when all of a sudden, like a lightning bolt you see a job description that says, "Authentic Company Seeking Authentic Employees"! What would be your reaction?

If your reaction is unquestioned joy, then proceed to send in your resume. This may finally be the place that you were waiting for and they are likely looking for you as well. However, if your first thought is, "This sounds great. Now how can I convince them that I am authentic.", then you may still need a little more time to reflect before hitting that submit button on your on-line application.

In reality authenticity is actually desired for almost any company that you will ever apply to whether they come out and say it or not. It really should be a given that goes without saying. However, many people go to interviews trying to project an image of who they think they are "supposed to be" instead of being who they are. In fact there are whole industries built around helping people to do just that. But at the end of the day, authenticity is a very valuable asset to any organization that hopes to experience lasting success. After all, their challenges are real, shouldn't their employees be as well?

So why then do so many interviews tend to rank low on the authenticity factor? Well, we won't attempt to dissect that beast in a single blog entry. What we will do is confirm that authenticity adds value to any situation--to include job interviews? Secondly, everyone carries an open invitation to authentic engagement with them everywhere they go.  All it takes is a simple decision.  Lastly, we will leave you with two questions to ask yourself before you interview to help prepare for an authentic exchange.

1. Have I made a sincere effort to understand what this organization is doing in the market place and where they intend to take the company?
2. Based on my research, am I willing to interview with this organization because it seems like a place where I am willing to invest my time, knowledge, and creativity for our mutual growth and prosperity?

If your answer to 1 is NO, then you have no way of anwering question 2.  And if your answer to number 1 is YES but your answer to number 2 is NO, then you may find it hard to be authentic when interviewing.  Of course, if your answer to both questions is YES, then your authenticity will precede you.  Happy Interviewing!