When you've taken a job interview, do you notice that it's often a 1-way flow of information? From you to someone else. It's not always a 2-way exchange. Why?

"At the end of the interview, if there's time, we'll get to some of your questions." Will you?  

I am writing this post to you now because I am thinking about people. I am thinking about what it means to help people find more work that matters to them. And I am thinking about how do we help people do more? Be more productive? Do more of what makes them come alive?  

And I'm left with one thought - you have to see them first.  

But you don't truly see others until they validate you with, "yes, you see me. I am seen."  

If I had to change one thing about culture now, it would be how we interview. I would require a recruiter or hiring manager to ask the job seeker, "what do you want to get out this conversation? What makes this conversation useful for you?"  

And lastly, I would require them to ask for validation at the end. The recruiter would recap what they heard and ask, "do you feel I've seen you as you want to be seen?"

For me, that's the real work of recruiting.  

It's also a way to help people feel heard, seen, and validated.  

If someone interviewed me that way, even if I didn't get the job, I'd still walk away feeling like I had an opportunity to do something worth something for someone. I'll take that.