Interviewing and Your DiSC™ Style

This morning as I was walking the dog my mind wandered to DiSC behaviors and personality styles. My mini dachshund mix has a mind of his own and wants to follow the same walk day after day. I switched things up see how he would react to a different walk and sure enough, he pulled his leash to our regular path. On the way back, he automatically turned to walk along the street that we didn't originally take. I thought to myself that this little dog has a dominant S behavior; he doesn't like change and he is very predictable.

Interviewing and your DiSC™ Style

Lately there have been a great deal of articles written about perfecting your resume or interviewing tips, what to wear on the interview or what questions to ask. What I haven’t seen is how your personality comes across in the networking, telephone or in-person interviews. I think that understanding style, both your own and the interviewer may help during the interviewing process. While there are many types of personality profiles, I’d like to concentrate on the DiSC™ definition of style.

History
The DiSC™ behavioral assessment is based upon the research of William Moulton Marston (1928) on how people respond to various effects in their environment. Studied and modified over the years, the DiSC™ is a tool used to not only assess your behavior and “personality”, but to also help you understand other people’s styles. It is used in businesses to enhance teamwork, to improve communication and customer service, to reduce conflict and value the differences in others.

DiSC™ Styles
While people are a combination of styles, the DiSC™ Classic states that in certain situations such as work, people usually behave in a consistent manner and fall into certain quadrants. These styles are described as Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientious. Their accompanying behaviors are described below.

D: Dominance
* Getting immediate results
* Causing action
* Accepting challenges
* Solving Problems
* Questioning status Quo
* Taking Authority

i: Influence
* Contacting people
* Being articulate/optimistic
* Generating enthusiasm
* Creating motivational environment
* Participating in a group

S: Steadiness
* Performing in a consistent manner
* Developing specialized skills
* Be a good listener
* Demonstrating patience, accommodating and considerate 

* Creating a harmonious work environment

C: Conscientious
* Attention to key directives, details and standards
* Thinking analytically and using a systematic approach to situations and activities
* Being diplomatic with people
* Using a systematic approach

DiSC™ Style and the Interview Process
Many times we are called to our line of work based upon our personal likes and also our behavioral styles. For example, a scientist may be high in Conscientious, while a sales and marketing representative may be high in Influence. A manager may have high Dominance tendencies and a writer may be higher in the Steadiness arena. Various job descriptions also highlight the competencies the employee would need to satisfactorily complete the job. These competencies obviously vary by job but as you read them in the job description or posting, pay attention to the wording. Descriptions such as “detail oriented,”, “team player”, “focused”, or outstanding customer service skills” give you an idea of the type of behavior needed for the job.
In an interview, either networking, telephone or face-to-face, your personal DiSC™ style and that of your interviewer should be taken into account. While it is critical to be prepared with behavioral examples of your past accomplishments, it is also important to consider how you come across to the interviewer.

1. Reflect on your own style. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? For example, if you are an “I”, you may find yourself presenting too much information when asked a question. Make sure you are prepared with succinct, clear examples of your accomplishments.

2. Follow the lead of the interviewer. The chart below describes some of the behaviors demonstrated by the DiSC ™styles.

Dominance
Direct
Forceful
Decisive
Quick

Influence
Gregarious
Persuasive
Pleasant
Influential

Steadiness
Passive
Patient
Team Oriented
Active Listener

Conscientious
Accurate
Factual
Diplomatic
Systematic

If you are interviewing with a ‘D”, make sure your responses are direct and succinct. While you may feel pressured to respond quickly, make sure you take time to think through your responses.
If you are interviewing with an “i”, and this is not your personal style, make sure that you are cordial and pleasant.
The ‘S” interviewer may seem relaxed and amiable, but they are deliberate in evaluating your responses.
While courteous and diplomatic, the “C” interviewer is interested in your responses to problem solving and decision making situations. Make sure you give this interviewer all the detail they ask for.

The Last Word
If you are overwhelmed by the thought of interviewing and understanding personal style, just concentrate on yourself. Understand your own style and recognize that you may respond to certain questions or situations based upon that style. Whatever you decide; plan and prepare for your interview with a complete understanding of your own accomplishments, your expectations and an understanding of the company you are visiting.
For more information about DiSC™ styles, please visit any of the websites devoted to the study of DiSC™ behavior.