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Writer's pictureMaryna Khomich

Unlock the secrets of successful recruitment with psycholinguistics: Decoding What a Candidate Really Means

Ever wonder what's going on in an interviewee's head? Beyond the usual interview techniques like case studies or competency questions, there's a fascinating approach called psycholinguistics. Unlock the secrets of recruitment with psycholinguistics, which is all about tuning into how candidates speak, not just what they say. Their speech patterns can reveal a lot about their behavior and thought processes.


Unlock the secrets of recruitment with psycholinguistic
psycholinguistics


Now, every method has its ups and downs. The cool part about psycholinguistics is that it's hard for people to fake how they talk, making it a great lie detector. The tricky part? It's tough to catch everything as an interviewer - the words, tone, and nuances. Plus, you need a bit of training in psychology and linguistics to really get it.

Let's dive into the concept of metaprograms. These are like the mental shortcuts we all use in decision-making and motivation. Imagine a scale with two ends - people tend to lean towards one end or the other when making choices.


Here are some key metaprograms and how they might pop up in an interview:


  • Internal vs. External Reference: This is all about where people get their decision-making confidence. Someone with an internal reference might say, "I decided this because it felt right to me." They trust their gut. On the other hand, a candidate with an external reference might lean on others' opinions: "I went with this approach because my previous boss thought it was best."

  • Approach vs. Avoidance: Does the candidate focus on chasing goals or avoiding failure? You might hear an approach-focused person talk about aiming for success: "I'm excited about achieving these targets." An avoidance-focused person might be more about sidestepping problems: "I want to ensure we don't fall short of our goals."

  • Process vs. Outcome Oriented: Some people love the journey (process), others are all about the destination (outcome). A process-oriented candidate might say, "I love working through the details of a project," while an outcome-oriented one could say, "I'm focused on hitting the end goal as efficiently as possible."

  • Lone Wolf vs. Team Player: This one's pretty straightforward. Does the candidate prefer flying solo or being part of a group? A lone wolf might emphasize personal achievements, whereas a team player will likely talk more about collective successes.


Using psycholinguistics isn't about putting people in boxes. It's about understanding their natural tendencies to see if they'll mesh well with the job and the team. It's also super useful for figuring out the best way to manage and motivate them.


When applying psycholinguistics, it's important to avoid jumping to conclusions. People often display a mix of these traits. The goal is to build a clear, nuanced picture of the candidate to match with the job's needs. It's less about "Is this person right for the job?" and more about "How can we best work together?"


In short, psycholinguistics gives recruiters and managers a deeper insight into a candidate's mind. It's not just about their skills and experiences, but how they think and react, which is crucial in building a strong, effective team. Just remember, it's a tool, not a crystal ball – but used wisely, it can provide some pretty cool insights!

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