Are You Passionate Enough?
Why many companies are in search of passionate employees.
Getting a job used to be easier. You would respond to a job posting, get an interview, and hear back with a decision in a day or two. The interviewer might ask about experience, skills, and maybe your goals.
Not today. Today it’s commonplace to send out 100 resumes a day, for weeks on end. Just getting a response is cause for celebration. Getting an interview feels like winning the lottery. Unless that interview is with a bot (I am not making this up). Some companies are using bots for pre-screening to make sure you are a living creature — which is more than we can say for the bot. But back to that interview…
Getting an interview feels like winning the lottery
It’s not just one interview. It’s a whole battery of them. You do one on Zoom to make sure you’re presentable in the company’s view. Pass that, and they invite you in person for an entire day (or two) of interviews. You end up meeting every department head in the company and return home exhausted.
If you’re lucky enough to pass muster, they invite you back for more interviews. Maybe a skills test, a personality assessment, and a project. The pièce de résistance is your meeting with the CEO. Ace that and you’re in. Maybe.
In many of those interviews you will be probed on your passion. What are you passionate about? How do you keep your passion? Do you feel passion for our company mission?
These questions might make sense if you’re working for a humanitarian non-profit. But it’s hard to feel unbridled passion for software coding or business development. What most people are passionate about is the ability to support themselves and their families.
Why all the talk about passion? Because passionate employees are more valuable to employers. Not because they do a better job though. In fact, many of the most passionate employees are terrible at their jobs. But their passion shines through and masks the faults.
What most people are passionate about is the ability to support themselves and their families.
Also, passionate employees are more willing to go the extra mile. Work late? Of course! Accept a lower cost of living adjustment? Count me in! Attend a client meeting on vacation? Sign me up!
The number of job postings that mention “passion” has grown eight-fold since 2007. Career websites offer advice on appearing passionate for your interview. Those who cry at their desks over work-related issues are seen as more engaged and promotable.
It’s great if you enjoy your job and get meaning from it in addition to a paycheck. But if you’re constantly first in line for the next unwanted task, it might be time to rethink your goals.
