Interviewer Tips – Conducting a Successful Job Interview​

Learning how to conduct an interview is a vital step to hiring the best candidates for your company. An effective job interview will give you a chance to learn more about candidates and allow candidates to learn more about your company.

An interview will allow you to get a sense of the intangibles, such as initiative, passion, goals, cultural fit, and communication skills.

The following interviewer tips will help you to conduct the perfect interview.

Be prepared

Be fully prepared for the interview. There is a general misconception that is it only the candidate who needs to prepare for an interview, but the interviewer must come equally prepped. 

• Read through their CV before the interview so that you’re familiar with their experience to date. 
• Make sure you know the questions to ask and in what order throughout the interview. It’s crucial that if there are more than one interviewer that everyone is on the same page in terms of questions being asked, the opportunities that are available, and how they could fit into the company. 

Describe the company and the position

Begin the interview by introducing yourself, your role in the company, and discussing the position with the interviewee. Give a brief background and overview of the company and how the position they’re interviewing for fits into the organisation’s objectives and goals. This provides the candidates with an opportunity to better understand the expectations and responsibilities of the position.

Reduce stress

Many candidates find job interviews stressful because there are a lot of unknowns. They think – “What kind of questions will I be asked? What will my interviewer be like? What should I wear?” This can cause problems because when people are stressed, they don’t perform as well. 

So, to reduce stress we would advise to inform candidates in advance of who exactly they will be meeting and the topics you’d like to discuss so they can prepare. Try to meet the candidate at a time that suits them too. You should also explain your company’s dress code.

During the interview itself, put the applicant at ease. Make eye contact and establish rapport. Your goal is to “make them comfortable” so that you have a productive, professional conversation.

Listen more, talk less

The number one mistake an interviewer can make is taking over the interview. The interview is mostly about the applicant, so make sure to listen attentively. Ensure the interviewee has the chance to speak openly without interruption. The more they talk, the more information you get. Follow the 80-20 rule of interviewing: let the interviewee talk 80% of the time – the person interviewing should be talking no more than 20% of the time. Engage in conversation with the candidate but ensure you are letting them answer the questions to get a full view of their personality and experience. Note if they have done their homework about your company. This is their moment to shine and prove to you why they are the right fit for your company. 

Make sure to leave time at the end of the interview for the candidate to ask you questions about the position, team, and company. Not only does this allow them to evaluate if the position is a good fit for them, but it also allows you to measure their interest and understanding of the company. This is when you can also provide insights about the company, your management style, and even “sell” the position.

Describe the next steps 

Close the interview by clarifying what the candidate can expect in terms of next steps, including when they can expect to hear back from you and what the rest of the interview process might look like. This is also a good time to inform them of your intended timeline for filling the position.

Most people understand that some processes can take longer than others. This can be down to several factors including internal discussions, budgeting, and time constraints. But it is imperative to keep regular communication with the candidate. Lack of communication is a major indicator that companies do not value the candidate. Whether it is positive or negative news, keeping regular contact with candidates will not only show your level of respect for the candidate but will also help with their level of interest.   

Conclusion 

If you’ve never conducted a job interview, think about the interviews you’ve experienced in the past from the applicant’s point of view. What worked and what didn’t? Did anything make you feel uncomfortable? Putting yourself into the candidate’s seat can help you become a more empathetic interviewer. 

If you’re a business owner looking to hire, please feel free to reach out to us. Keep up to date with all our latest industry news, insights, and events by subscribing to our client email list below.