Tips to conduct a successful interview

Whether you use a recruitment agency for employment assistance or shortlist applicants yourself after publishing an advertisement, the final stage of the entire recruitment process is the interview and that has to be done by the company. It should be noted however that the interview is as crucial for the employer as it is for the applicant as the applicant is also deciding whether or not he/she wants to work for you. Therefore, it is very important that the interview is conducting well from the employer’s perspective and the employee feels welcome. Here are a few tips that can help you present yourself in the best possible way in front of your applicants.

Ask questions related to the job description

Before an interview, it can prove beneficial for you to have a list of questions to ask the applicant ready. The questions should mainly be focused on the tasks that the job revolves around and the responsibilities that the potential employee is expected to take up if he/she scores the job. These questions can be drawn out from the job description and can also relate to other personal qualities you are looking for in a potential employee.

Use behavioral questions

Inquire about the applicant’s past experiences and particularly incidences where he/she faced failure of any sort. How an individual responds to a setback in life and how they overcome obstacles says a lot about their character. Notice how the candidate speaks about his experiences and what he has learned from them. The telltale signs of a progressive person are humility, resilience, and self-confidence.

Review the CV beforehand

Go through the candidate’s CV thoroughly before the interview so that you can show the candidate that you have paid attention to their application and that you are interested in getting to know them. You can use the resume to formulate your questions about past jobs and any hobbies that will help you get to know the candidate more.

Follow a structure of the interview

It is recommended to start by talking a little about the company and how it operates. Let the candidate feel comfortable while you outline the job description and some brief details about the tasks that require the candidate’s expertise. Following that, ask the candidate questions and then leave a window for them to ask you questions. This helps set parameters for the interview and helps you both focus on the interview.

Refrain from excess talk

In order to let the applicant feel comfortable so that you can see the true side of them, you need to give the candidate space and time to express themselves. An employer should always let the candidate describe their qualifications, hobbies, and skills so that a fair estimate about their capabilities can be made. Moreover, all questions should be job-related and the employer should never come off as being too chummy. When the questions divert from the job, you might start getting along with the candidate resulting in you wanting to hire someone you like rather than someone who is right for the job.