Before
the interview, the interviewer
has to prepare in advance to ensure
that they can remain focused and
in control. Use this checklist
as a guide:
- Tell your
staff that you will be in an
interview and unavailable for
at least 1 hour
- Ask the receptionist
to take your phone calls
- Prepare the presentation
of your environment and yourself
- Read the candidate resume
and application and make notes
on areas you wish to explore
- Review the interview
questions you have prepared
Before you start the interview
tell the candidate about the
interview’s format. Make
sure that you greet the candidate
warmly in the reception, offering
a firm handshake and solid eye
contact. You have to put the
candidate at ease and relax.
After you introduce yourself
tell them the basic structure
of the interview and explain
the job position posted. You
may want to begin the interview
with appropriate small talk
eventually leading into the
reason for the meeting.
How to do the opening of your
interview:
- Greet warmly and make
small talk
- Describe structure of
interview
- Outline how questions
will be handled
- Advise that you’ll
be taking notes
- Ask applicant to briefly
walk you through their resume
You have to be prepared for
questions. Make sure you have
adequate information about the
company to answer a candidate's
questions. They may ask about
your business history, culture
and core functions, number of
employees, future plans, job
posted, hired process or a variety
of other things.
Standard interview questions might not seem difficult, but
the answer to each should be
polished and sharp. Effective
responses from candidates are
questions answered honestly,
positively, and briefly, highlighting
important qualities and accomplishments
that are relevant to the position
at hand.
Resume reviews provide interviewer with an opportunity to get a
sense for the candidate at an
early stage while allowing them
to warm up to the interview.
Beginning at the first listed
position, have the applicant
describe each job, paying particular
attention to:
- what they liked most about
the position?
- what they liked least?
- what they feel they have learned?
- why they elected to leave
that job?
Along with the interview questions
you should ask, there are several
questions you should not ask,
including:
- How old are you?
- What is your religion?
- What ethnicity are you?
- What is your sexual preference?
- Are you married?
- Do you have children?
- Are you planning to start a
family?
- Have you ever done drugs?
- Have you ever been arrested?
Along with the questions and
answers, you will want to get
a feeling for the comfort and
character of the person sitting
across from you. Typically candidates
are nervous on a job interview
and need you help them to relax.
During an interview, you have
to get a feeling for what the
candidate brings to the position
from his past experience and
his presentation. You should
explain the position and mention
any benefits package that will
be included.
During the interview always
take notes. Interviewing requires
listening skills. It is critical
that you write responses down
as appropriate; your memory
will fail you if you do not.
The point of this interview
is to determine whether or not
the candidate meets the hiring
criteria; notes will be an invaluable
asset when it comes to the evaluation
to come. Interview notes must
be retained with the applications
and resumes.
You should end the interview
by asking the applicant if he
has any questions. One of the
easiest ways to lose control
of an interview is to allow
the candidate to ask the questions
during interview. To keep control
and timing explain to the candidate
before the start of the interview
that you will be allowing 10
minutes at the end of the interview to
answer any questions they might
have. Make sure you know the
answers before responding or
make it clear that you can find
out the answers and let them
know. Finally, you should thank
each applicant for coming in
to the interview and shake his
hand. You need to be polite
and professional throughout
the interview process.
Typically, you will schedule
a second interview with a strong
candidate. It is at this time
that you should get into describing
the job more thoroughly and
discussing salary. In many cases,
the supervisor or the manager
with whom the future employee
will have to work will conduct
the follow up interview. |
