- March 20, 2023
- Jessica Harling
By Jorge Jaramillo
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking for both the interviewer and the interviewee mainly because they are the first contact between a candidate and an interviewer. We can think of it like a blind date, and it will immediately change our approach to it – two parties trying to get to know each other, understand their intentions, their backgrounds, and if their goals and values are aligned with ours.
As an interviewer, it’s important to conduct a productive interview that not only helps you find the right candidate for the job but also leaves a positive impression about your company on the candidate.
Prepare ahead of time
Before booking the interview, review the candidate’s resume, cover letter, and any other application materials they’ve provided. Develop a list of questions to ask that are relevant to the job and reflect the skills and experience required.
Remember to include as many technical questions as you have in order to identify their skillset and the level of expertise in the use of each tool, system, or methodology required of the position.
Create a comfortable environment
The interview setting should be comfortable and welcoming. Start with a friendly and welcoming introduction and make small talk to ease the candidate’s nerves. This will help them open up during the interview. Whether the interview is taking place at the company facilities or remotely, setting the right tone will yield better answers.
Ask behavioral questions
These are a great way to assess a candidate’s skills and experience. Ask questions requiring them to describe a specific situation, the action they took, and the outcome. This will give you a better understanding of how they handle certain situations.
Having the candidates take a behavioral test could also bring you some valuable insights about their actual personality type. The Predictive Index, How to Fascinate, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, have proven to be one of the most complete and accurate for this purpose.
Listen attentively
As the candidate answers your questions, listen carefully to what they are saying. Take notes and follow up with clarifying questions if needed. This will help you to fully understand the candidate’s responses and reflect on them post-interview. To respect their time, be mindful of the interview length.
Keep an eye on their body language
Pay attention to the candidate’s body language, including their posture, eye contact, and facial expressions. This can give you clues about their level of comfort, confidence, and honesty.
Your body language should also invite them to share their thoughts and feelings with clarity as they open up their life experiences to you.
Be the face of your company
Every interview is also an opportunity for you to showcase the strengths and benefits of working for your company. This might seem implicit, but it’s critical to bring confidence to the candidate and enhance their level of engagement with the job opportunity. This can help you to attract top talent whilst you exhibit brand awareness. Be sure to provide information about the culture, work environment, and growth opportunities. Invite them to ask questions on these matters.
Be respectful
Treat the candidate with respect and professionalism throughout the interview process. Avoid interrupting them while they are speaking and refrain from asking any personal questions pertaining to age, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation unless they bring them to the table. If they do, how should the interviewer respond? Religion and political affiliation in particular are topics that can derail the interview. The interviewer should politely redirect the interviewee back on track.
Follow Up
After the interview, follow up with the candidate to inform them of the next steps in the hiring process. Provide a timeline for when they can expect to hear back from you, thank them for their time, and if they seem to be the right fit to move forward, wish them the best of luck in the next stages.
Make sure to inform them properly if they didn’t get selected to move forward in the hiring process as some of them may be counting on this job, pausing their job search for a while.
In conclusion, conducting successfully productive job interviews requires preparation, attentiveness, and respect for the candidate.
Following these tips and tricks ensures that your interviews are effective in identifying the right candidate for the job while leaving a positive impression on the candidate.
For more information on tips and tricks for interviewing, email us at jessica@gobehindthedesign.com or schedule a Discovery Call to discuss your
recruiting needs.
