Let’s say one has successfully placed permanent labor certification ads, has gotten lots and lots of resumes which they screened, and found a few great applicants that they would like to interview. The goal of the interview is to hire the best candidate for the job. Of course, if one has placed great permanent labor certification ads, then the response may be overwhelming, making this decision that much harder. This issue becomes a little more nuanced when it comes to interviewing individuals from a different culture.
Candidate May Have Never Been to an Interview Before
It’s important to keep in mind that for some candidates, though they may have had jobs in the past, they may have never gone through an interview before, which means that this is a skill they are currently learning. Even if they have gone through one or a few in the past, the ones held in their country of origin may be completely different from the ones in the U.S. As such, the fact that they don’t do great at the interview may not be a sign that they are not the best person for the job. It could simply be that they’re not great at that particular aspect of applying for a job.
Different Language
Another thing to keep in mind is that the candidate may be interviewing in a language that is foreign to them. Not only is the situation itself stressful, but one also has to sell themselves in a different language. As such, they may make mistakes or keep quiet for long periods of time, out of fear of saying something incorrectly. This difficulty with the language may also come up in their response to the permanent labor certification ads.
Culture and Responses
The culture one comes from can play a big role in the way they respond to questions asked during an interview. For instance, in some cultures it is considered impolite to promote themselves, as they may feel that that is bragging. Identifying weaknesses may be seen as losing face, which is also why they may be unwilling or reluctant to do so.
Things to Keep in Mind
It’s helpful to take the time to explain the scope of the interview right at the beginning. In addition, one should be sure to avoid using acronyms and jargon, as these may confuse the individual who has never heard them before. Also, nonverbal signs are not the same in all cultures. Nodding, for instance, is taken to mean disagreement in some cultures.
