Hiring and recruiting the right people is critical to the success of any organization. As an interviewer, you are on the front lines when it comes to assessing a potential employee’s skills and abilities. To ensure that you make the most of the job interview process, here are 10 must-dos during the interview – from the perspective of the interviewer.
1) Warm Greeting
Research has shown that you have about 7 seconds to make a good first impression. That initial interview is the candidate's first official interaction with your company, so take some time to make it special. Make sure the person greeting them knows they are coming and their name, be prepared with beverages if possible, and have a nice place for them to wait. When you greet them, have a warm smile, introduce yourself and your position in the company, and engage in some small talk as you walk to your interview room.
2) Be clear on the process
Did you know 83% of candidates prefer having a clear timeline for the hiring process? Be sure to share not just the agenda for the current meeting, but also the agenda for the hiring process with the candidate as soon as possible. This can help get a lot of the nerves and questions out of the way. Make sure your process is clearly defined and known by everyone involved.
3) Review and prepare
It's not enough to just show up to an interview. 73% of job seekers find the interview process stressful and as the interviewer, you have a chance to relieve some of that stress by being calm and prepared. Take some time to review the candidate's resume beforehand and generate questions or areas for further conversation. Have any supporting documents ready and packaged nicely. It also helps to have an interview note sheet prepared so you can easily share notes with your team.
4) Actively listen
Active listening includes responses that demonstrate that you understand what the other person is trying to tell you about his or her experience. Centenary University says there are 3 A's of active listening; Attitude, Attention, and Adjustment. It is important to use all these skills in an interview so you leave the conversation with an in-depth understanding of the candidate and their fit for the role.
5) Pay Attention to Body language
Body language is a crucial interview technique and it can be a lot more telling than what your verbal communication is; especially from the way you move to even the way you sit can make a candidate feel at ease and open to share. Remember body language is a two-way street. Do some research on body postures and movements that both promote and indicate openness and engagement.
6) Carefully select your questions
There are many different styles of interview questions, and each one helps to gain important knowledge on whether or not the candidate is a good fit for the role. The three most common are open-ended, behavioral, and situational. Take some time to evaluate what information you are needing to learn and what questions can get you there.
7) Be prepared for follow up questions
The candidate should not feel like you are asking questions and checking off boxes, it should feel like a pleasant conversation. Be prepared to follow the conversation where it goes and make adjustments when necessary. Remember, this process can be nerve-racking. Sometimes candidates need a little help getting out of their heads. Give them some grace and be prepared with follow-up questions to help get the conversation rolling.
8) Take notes
YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER EVERYTHING. No matter how good your memory is you will forget details that could be important. Taking notes is essential to an effective interview process because it allows for information to be easily shared between team members and clear feedback to be shared with the candidate. Some people will use an interview note template or guide to help organize their thoughts, while others prefer open notes. Either way, take notes during the meeting!
9) Allow time for questions
An interview goes both ways. As much as you are vetting the candidate, they're also vetting you and your company. A Glassdoor study found 96% of job seekers say it’s important to work for a company that embraces transparency. Allow time in the interview for their questions. Make sure you are prepared with honest information about your core values, day-to-day operations, company culture, role responsibilities, benefits packages, ect.
10) Follow up
Candidates value interview feedback and are 4x more likely to consider a company for future opportunities if provided thoughtful feedback. Typically, I recommend providing feedback to a client within 24 hours. This can help expedite the hiring process and ensure candidate satisfaction, even with the ones not selected for the role.
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