How does an employer decide which job candidate to hire? This article is part two of a two-part look at the mysteries of the hiring process. This time I would like to help you understand the typical factors, beyond your qualifications, that business owners judge potential candidates. There are seven aspects that influence each hiring situation. Awareness of these dynamics can help you better present yourself and your skills and abilities.

Psychological Impact – First impressions are made in an instant. The second you make contact with a potential employer, whether electronically, by telephone, or in person, that owner will assess your appearance and behavior. You can improve the psychological impact your first impression by adapting a positive attitude and a professional demeanor. This is not limited to dressing appropriately for interviews , but developing and using all your communication skills Researching potential employers in advance can also help you better strategize how to approach spa and salon owners, target your resumes and cover letters, and dress better when networking.

Chemistry – People like to hire like-minded people like themselves. Chemistry refers to the personal connection individuals make when meeting and getting to know one another. Once again you can build rapport and establish positive regard by effectively using your communication skills. For example, using body language such as smiling with a firm handshake conveys not only confidence, but communicates "I like you" to potential employers. Further, using your active listening skills demonstrates you are interested in the other person and provides you with more information that you can use to match the position qualifications.

Vocabulary – Do you speak the right language? In other words, effective communication techniques will only go so far if you do not know what you are talking about. You must be able to use correct business terminology within proper context. For example, if you are working toward a specific sector, such as beauty pageants, you will need to know how your customer service and creativity will fit into this competitive, billion dollar industry. You will want to be able to clearly express how your updos frame with flexibility or how your makeup techniques naturally enhance structure. Context is important because without it, your language becomes meaningless buzz words.

Match – If you made it to the interview, you have at least matched qualifications on paper. From that point, however, salon and spa owners will be not only looking to confirm you qualifications, but whether or not you fit. Fit refers to several aspects of employment, including desirable personality and characteristics. Perhaps one of the most important employment aspects is the group dynamic. Employers will be judging you as potential team member and whether others will like working with you. Before you try to fashion yourself to the perfect fit by duplicating characteristics, it is important to remember that match is a two-way street. Chances are you will not be happy working for an employer that does not appreciate your unique personality.

Situation – This is the back-story of the position. In other words, what are the circumstances for which the position became available? Is it a new position or replacing an existing position? Why did the previous person leave? How do others feel about hiring for this position? The answers to these questions provide you with an insightful history and can help you prepare for interview. Specifically you can use this information to anticipate not only the questions that may be asked, but what personal concerns need to be addressed. An example of one personal concern might be how you maintain your station.

Positive Patterns and Indicators – One reason employers like to verify the information on your resume in an interview is that they are looking for positive patterns, indicators and knockout factors. The premise of this employment factor is that past performance is the best predictor for future success. Most of these indicators are highlighted by your work history. Do you demonstrate consistency and increased responsibility with no large, unexplained gaps? Interview questions will also aim to identify positive personality patterns. For example, questions may be designed to highlight whether you reliable and how well you get along with others? To prepare for these questions, be sure you know your resume completely and be prepared discuss each experience in detail.

Knockout Factors – Employers will often ask questions that highlight negative patterns and are used specifically to separate equally qualified candidates. To do better with these questions, you will want to practice answering with what you learned and how you are improving. You will also want to be aware of any answers that may raise red flags with employers. Red flags concerns about situations that vary widely from normal or professional, such as your online presence with various social networking websites, for example. Other knockout factors can include undesired traits (e.g. lying or gossiping), distracting habits (e.g. fidgeting or saying "like"), or unprofessional behaviors (e.g. being late or discourteous).

Understanding the hiring process is a powerful tool in preparing yourself for today´s job market. Whether you are researching or networking for information, knowing these factors can help know what to learn about your targeted employers and how to better present yourself professionally.