Are you your business or company’s HR or the manager scheduled to interview potential employees?
If you are, you may wonder how to make your interviews more productive and find the right employee. Interviews can take a lot of time, depending on what position needs to be filled and how applicants respond to questions. But given that we are limited in terms of the time we have for each applicant, you need ways to make the interview count.
To help you get started, here are some tips on making your interview a good one and why it matters:
Prepare In Advance
One reason interviews tend to be hit or miss is that the interviewer is not prepared for them. Since they are not prepared, the interview becomes longer, and the discussions stray away from the true objective. To prevent this problem, you can create an outline that will cover everything you need to cover during the interview and information about the applicant you want to expand on.
Guide The Discussions
The interviewee will be on alert during the interview, which may affect the quality of their answer. If you want to make the interview good, taking advantage of this situation is best by steering the conversation back to the interview topic. You can repeat critical phrases or reword questions to give the interviewee time to create a more thorough response. Another great way to guide the discussions is by using verbal and nonverbal cues to show you are listening or want them to expound on their answer.
Develop The Right Questions
Questions ensure that interviews proceed smoothly. However, they must be timed perfectly, get the right responses, and lead the discussions. Before the interview, design broad questions to get the respondent to give you the necessary information. Once they give you the answer, you must be able to create specific questions that will only lead to short answers. You can also take notes throughout the interview to help you with questions.
Treat Your Interviewees Well
While not all interviewees will cut, you can still improve their experience and boost your brand’s image during the interview. When candidates have a good experience with a company, they are more likely to recommend the company to others. You can make them feel welcome during the interview by giving them a smile and a smooth interview process. You should also pay attention to them and answer any questions they may have.
Learn From Each Interview
Even if you prepare well, there may be instances where the interviews will go better than you hope. When this happens, don’t be disheartened. Take a step back and review what happened to see what errors you made that affected the interview. You can ask for advice from experienced recruiters like me, to see what else you can do to improve your interview technique.
Doing a good interview and being a good interviewer can be a tall order, whether it is your first time handling one or not. But if you prepare correctly and change your mindset about the ideal interview, you can adapt to every interview and make it special for everyone.
Now here’s some of the interview tips that will surprise you:
Do Appearance and Attitude Matter in An Interview
How to Emphasise Your Personal Strengths During an Interview
8 Types of Interview You Will Come Across In Your Lifetime
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