Interviewers: Are YOU Prepared?
Much time is spent encouraging job seekers to be prepared for their interview. However, interviewers need to be prepared also! Here are 4 points to consider before you meet with your next candidate.
1. Review the resume in advance. Become familiar with the job titles and major responsibilities listed so you can refer to them comfortably during the interview. Your questions can then be more personal, such as, “Can you tell me about how you handled a customer service concern at ABC Company?”
2. Prepare thoughtful questions. Do not create questions “on the fly” during an interview. Expert job interviewers do their homework and determine what skills are needed to be successful on the job and then prepare questions to determine if the candidate possesses these skills. These skills are not the tasks to be accomplished, but the skills that are required to accomplish certain job responsibilities. An engineer, for example, may need problem solving skills, analytical ability, and be able to multi-task. After determining the skills needed, create questions to ask the candidate how they have used these skills in the past.
3. Know what you can and cannot ask in an interview. Become familiar with the legal aspects of the interview process and why some questions are best left unasked. Be aware of the serious ramifications of asking about age, disability, military service, family status, etc. Avoiding certain questions can help you (and your company) avoid potential legal disputes. Remember, if you ask only about job-relevant skills and abilities, you will find out if the candidate is a match for your company and you are likely to avoid potential legal issues.
4. Be prepared to sell your company. Remember, interviews are a two-way street. Not only are you interviewing candidates, but they are assessing your company. You should have a keen knowledge of the position and responsibilities. You should also be knowledgeable about the company and its culture. And, have a passion and commitment to the company. The interview process is the ideal time to promote and reinforce the relevant attributes of your business.
Preparing for a professional, effective, and thorough interview takes time and effort on the interviewer’s part. It may seem tedious, but it is worth it. A poor hiring decision can cost a company up to twice a person’s annual salary. That does not include the frustration experienced by the management team and decline in morale in the workplace. Take the extra time to prepare properly for your next interview and be certain you hire right person the first time