The Name Game: How Learning Names can make you a More Appealing Job Candidate

By Stephanie Larson 

      How are you with name recall? To be honest, I am terrible at it. I cannot count the number of times I have forgotten or mixed up the names of new acquaintances. Yet, it seems I am not alone. I have been called “you” so many times that at moments I am tempted to respond by letting out a nice loud “baa” and explaining that I am a Stephanie and not a female sheep. 

         This lack of name recall may all be jest in casual situations, but what happens when we take the situation to the work place? Are names really that important when you go in for an interview, or are they simply trivial things to be thrown aside until you are officially hired?        

       According to an article written by Miriam Salpeter, which can be found here, names hold more importance than we often attribute to them.

      In her article, Salpeter explains that in an increasingly competitive job market learning someone’s name can increase your appeal to potential employers. When employers must choose from a pool of qualified candidates, little things, like demonstrating that you have taken time to learn names of potential employeers, can make a world of difference. 

         According to the author Nicholas Aretakis, who is cited in Salpeter’s article, learning someone’s name can “boost your image, earn you respect and differentiate you”. This, according to the author, is due to the importance names hold for the individual.

         By taking the time to learn someone’s name, you demonstrate your personal investment in the company. Think about it, how many potential employees are going to take the time to learn names of potential employers? Most applicants will be so focused on the interview that they will overlook the little things that make you stand out as an applicant. Don’t get me wrong, the interview is very important, but taking time to do something different, such as learn names can really put you a cut above the rest. 

         The benefits of name recall are not limited to the work force. Salpeter also recommends using name recall during volunteer opportunities, internships, or even networking situations.

         If you are anything like me and need to brush up on your name recall skills, make sure to follow the link to Salpeter’s article. In the article, Salpeter lists a number of helpful ways to learn to remember names so that the next time you meet new people, especially in the work place, you can impress them all by addressing them by their names.