I’ve been recently helping a client interview for a MuleSoft developer position. The client is using a recruiting agency, and we receive numerous candidates each week. Unfortunately so far, all of them have a common issue.
Once all the technical questions have been asked, I switch gears and ask soft-skill questions. One of my favorite questions is: How do you explain your profession to a 6 year old?
You would be amazed by how many candidates freeze in their tracks like a deer in headlights.
Some don’t understand the question and I need to rephrase it multiple times. Others ramble on using technical jargon that would certainly lose a 6 year old in a matter of seconds. One didn’t even know how to answer that question at all.
You can be the best in your profession, but if you cannot talk plainly about it, no one will know. As a Salesforce professional, adapting your language to your audience is one of the most underappreciated skills you can develop.
If you’re talking to a fellow developer or architect, you can get as technical as you want. But if you’re talking to a business user, or a 6 year old, you simply cannot. Know when and how to use language appropriately and you’ll be ahead of your competition.
The takeaway
How would YOU explain your job to a 6 year old?