In the current labor market, it is vital that all employers are putting their best foot forward to recruit the best talent. When it comes to a hiring interview, it’s important to be prepared. Just like how a candidate should take the time to research the company, interviewers too should be ready to evaluate the candidate.
Here are five preparation tips for employers before conducting an interview.
1. Review the candidate’s resume before the interview:
This may seem obvious, but by doing this and creating interview questions based on the resume, you have shown the candidate that you’ve taken the time to ensure a productive interview.When looking through candidate resumes, keep your interview questions in mind and ask yourself:
· Am I planning to ask for information the candidate has already shared?
· Is there anything strange or interesting in their experience I’d like to explore during the interview?
· Are there any work samples available I could use to drive the discussion on their skills?
· Do I need to check the validity of what they claim?
2. Be ready to answer questions:
Candidates want to determine whether the job can fulfill their aspirations and whether the company is a good fit for them. So, they might ask relevant questions which you should be able to answer. If you give pertinent, transparent answers, you’ll be able to create a better candidate experience and sell your company in a way that helps candidates decide if they’re a good fit. Ensure you can talk to candidates about:
· The company’s strategy, mission and structure
· The team’s projects, direction and goals
· The perks and benefits tied to the position you’re hiring for
· The next steps of the hiring process
· What you like about your job and the team or company
If candidates ask something you don’t know the answer to or aren’t allowed to disclose, prepare to say so tactfully.
3. Schedule the same amount of time for each interview.
Having a consistent and set timeframe will keep you on track and focused on the questions you want to ask.
4. Limit small talk.
It’s better to keep all your questions job-related. If you spend the interview just chatting, you may make hiring decisions because you liked the candidate versus whether the person is actually qualified for the job.
5. Be consistent with every interview
If you are interviewing multiple candidates for the same position, be sure to ask them all the same questions to avoid discrimination issues. Likewise, if you include a test in your interview, be sure to make sure it’s the same test for each candidate.
If you would like to learn more about the interview process, be sure to check out the other parts of this interview series.
