Hiring managers: Qualifications aren't everything

Qualifications for a job are only part of the reason employers decide who will get hired, a survey of U.S. hiring managers found. CareerBuilder said a sense of humor, sharing common interests with an employer, how candidates dress and who is in better shape also play a part in who gets a job. "When you're looking for a job, the key is selling your personal brand. Employers are not only looking for people who are professionally qualified for the position, but also someone who is going to fit in at the office," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. A survey conducted May 14 to June 5 by Harris Interactive that included 2,076 responses by hiring managers found given two job candidates with equal qualifications, 27 percent indicated the candidate's sense of humor could be a deciding factor in which of two candidates would get the job. Twenty-six percent indicated the candidate more involved in their community would be offered the job, while 22 percent indicated the job would go to the better dressed of the two candidates. Common interests with the employer was indicted as a possible deal maker by 21 percent of hiring mangers, and the candidate more physically fit was indicated by 13 percent of the hiring managers as something that would influence their decision given there were two candidates with equally strong qualifications. To lesser degrees, candidates more up to date on current affairs, those involved in social media and those knowledgeable about sports were indicated as possible reasons one candidate might be chosen over another, CareerBuilder said. The results of the survey included a margin of error of 2.15 percentage points, it can be said with 95 percent certainty, CareerBuilder said.