But the former outperform the latter by being more self-motivated, she said. High performers see themselves as being largely able to control anything that happens. Low and average achievers are more likely to see outcomes as being predetermined and give up more quickly in the face of adversity. So they will try to give answers during a job interview indicating they possess those traits. Quinn teaches interviewing techniques designed to reveal the real person behind the job applicant's answers.
Applicants generally arrive at job interviews with their guard up and canned answers ready.
Quinn suggests the interviewer spend the first several minutes in casual conversation. A key difference between high performers and less-stellar achievers is their tenacity in the face of obstacles. So Quinn suggests posing questions that ask how the job candidate handled a difficult situation. Interviewers should listen for excuses for failure, Quinn says. Those betray a lack of tenacity.