What is Personality?

The trend of an interview turns largely on the impression made by the personality of the interviewee. Personality is an evasive quality which is difficult to define and also quite a task to develop it. It is a natural gift but can also be cultivated. It is a very personal quality of mind, reaction, appearance, manner and speech. It is not only the smart appearance. It is perhaps far more deep and impressive. It is the sum total of the inner working of the body, mind and spirit, in concord and accord.

                We often see advertisements that says “How to develop your personality?” It is rather hopeless to expect an improvement through an external source by some mechanical process. But the wording of such advertisements is proof that there must be latent possibilities of improvement of personal qualities, either dormant, depressed or unexpressed. The purpose of all education is to develop these latent qualities.

SOME TYPES

                Generally speaking, there are three chief directions in which personality can be cultivated. There is the ‘Public school type’ of personality; there is also the entirely religious personality; there is the ordinary,everyday type.

1.The Accomplished Gentlemen: this type is found on good manners. A gentleman, in this sense, must, it is believed, possess a fine degree of personality. The type is usually good; the goodness is determined by three qualities—uprightness, reliability and initiative. These three virtues constitute together a perfection in manhood which is worth emulation. The question, however, is to what extent character can be cultivated and initiative be instilled. Character is a compound of so many different factors that it can only be developed. Cultivate character, and the first ingredient of personality has been contributed.

Reliability can only be judged under circumstances of stress. Hence its cultivation calls for hard and honest living.

Initiative is more objective than the former and opportunity can be provided for its proper development as in scouting or military service.

2.The orthodox type: the orthodox or religious type of personality is inclined to be such that to consider it from the point of view of the ordinary Interview Board seems to be unnecessary.

3.The ordinary type: the normal or average type of personality is the kind which is most in demand. Inquiry shows that the qualities of speech, deportment and so forth, as mentioned above, are what interviewing bodies look forward to and assess.

WELL-ROUNDED PERSONALITY

                A hollow mind betrays itself from vacant looks. A full mind is, therefore, the first desideratum for the personality test. Wide reading, aesthetic appreciation and ethical values help to make up a full mind.

SENSIBILITY AND SENSITIVITY

                Reactions in the form of sensibility and sensitivity are the common tests applied by interviewers when putting questions to candidates. It is possible to train oneself to give sensible answers. Too many foolish answers are given when a little foresight could overcome this defect. Therefore, precision is the key-note in this aspect of personality development. Sensitivity is a delicate reaction to outside influences, and is rather like the reaction of a galvanometer to a magnet. The interviewing bodies are magnets and the candidate is the instrument. By making himself sufficiently turned to slightest suggestions, implied or otherwise, in questions, control over the range of interview may be had. The key-note is, therefore ‘cautious anticipation’.

MANNERS

                Manners can also be judged by interviewers and the little lapses may sometimes betray a candidate. Politeness, in all circumstances, always pays. Punctuality is the prime expression of politeness.