Interview: Wife told she was too timid in feedback!

[TonyRPH]

My O/H recently attended an interview for a customer services role, and the feedback was that she was too timid (which she isn't!).

So how could she portray herself as being less timid in the future?

Does she need to talk louder, or sit taller or something?

Or is this just a BS excuse?

[Mandat]

Perhaps she is not timid as her natural self but was the most timid out of all the other candidates.

Who knows?

[StevieBee]

Not necessarily BS. We often recruit people for roles that require the person to convey confidence in conversations with members of the public. It's an important part of the roles and those unable to convey this are rarely offered positions - even if they excel in other areas.

How do you overcome a 'timid' disposition. To be honest, I'm not sure you can. It's either in your nature or not.

You mention that you don't believe her to be timid so may be an issue relating to interview style which can be worked on through various coaching services and You Tube resources.

[Hoofy]

Maybe she was having an off day. Sometimes I can be a little bit on the quiet side and other times, I can stand in front of a big group of strangers giving a talk without being nervous at all.

[lyonspride]

Employers seem to expect crazy extroverts these days. Seems like every shop or business I walk into, someone has to get up in my face all loud and smiley, really winds me up........ I told a chap in one of the big electrical/electronic retailers to f**k off once, wouldn't leave me alone, didn't know his stuff and every other word was BS. But that seems to be what these companies want.

[chunder27]

Agreed, I know they are told to do this, but I have frequently told a salesperson in a store that I am leaving because they won't leave me alone. Once is enough, no more, unless you seek them out.

Also, why bang bang music in some shops, what is the point!

[rog007]

I’d not change too much if this is a first in terms of that kind of feedback. There may simply have been a candidate they preferred over her.

If however this is not the first time she has lost a role and received this kind of feedback, then there may be something in it.

Is it the first time?