Interviewing is a two-way street, and candidates must be able to evaluate your business before accepting a position. This month, we discuss how to make the most of the interview to ensure you use your time effectively.
Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions – If something raises red flags during the interview, it’s better to get an explanation for it at the time rather than carrying on and simply ruling them out afterwards.
Don’t oversell your company – You can lay out the strengths and weaknesses of your company, but don’t paint an unrealistic picture of your company in order to lure an applicant on board.
Don’t ask for information you already have – by saying, “tell me about yourself.” The interview should be used to obtain new information or to confirm tentative information.
Don’t allow yourself to be interrupted unless there is an emergency –Too many interviewers allow the interview to become disjointed by not taking steps to prevent interruptions. Your office door should be closed and calls and messages should be put on hold.
Don’t talk too much – Ideally, an interviewer should say 1 word for every 10 spoken by the person being interviewed.
Don’t use the interview as your therapy – Too many interviewers use their sessions to spout out their concerns. When an interviewer vents emotions in an interview, he or she may feel better but may lose a prospective employee at the same time.
Don’t be afraid to spell out in detail the requirements of the position – People should know what is required of them before beginning a job. The interview is the time to outline the job’s requirements, your criteria for evaluating success in the role and how the candidate’s background can suit those requirements.
Don’t gossip or swap war stories – Many interviewers try to find familiar ground they can tread over with the applicant. Although this might seem like a comfortable way to get an interview under way, inquiring about friends and relatives can get things sidetracked, wasting a huge amount of time.
Don’t ask closed questions – Encourage the candidate to speak more about their experience by asking questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” response.
Don’t be afraid to make the interview as long or as short as you deem necessary – To be effective, the interview should make the most of everyone’s valuable time. There are no set guidelines on length as long as the time is spent wisely.
