Preparing to Conduct an Interview

As we talk about interviewing, we often focus on how the person being interviewed should prepare, act, and follow up. Today, we are shifting our focus to the hiring manager and individuals conducting interviews and the role they play in the process.

If you are conducting an interview, it is important to prepare and represent yourself and your organization well so that the person you are interviewing has a positive experience. Now more than ever, interviewing is a two-way street, and candidates have more options during the job search process. Putting your best foot forward during the interview process could be the pivotal moment for securing great talent.

To help you prepare for conducting an interview, we’ve pulled together our top 3 tips:

1. Revisit the job description.

Make sure you know the position well that you are interviewing for. Whether or not you are going to be directly involved in the day-to-day interactions with the person interviewing for the role, you need to show that you are actively involved and engaged in the search.

Review the key requirements and duties for the job, and then assess the candidate accordingly. Make sure you can speak to the ways that you will interact with this person and how they will interact with the organization as whole. Your goal is to help them understand not only the basic requirements of the position and their applicable experience, but also how they will contribute to the company and overall success metrics.

2. Do your research.

Familiarize yourself with the candidates resume, and even do a little extra research as time allows. A quick LinkedIn search might bring to light a shared connection or interest that you can mention. Putting in even 10 minutes of work ahead of time shows the candidate you care about their experience and value their time.

Knowing their background can also help you direct your questions to better understand how their experience could be applicable to the job. You can steer the conversation accordingly to maximize your time with the candidate.

3. Have a plan.

As you prepare, think of a structure for the time you have allotted with the candidate. We recommend starting with introductions and background from both you and the candidate. Then you can move into structured questions. Think ahead about what you want to learn from the candidate about their experience and skillset, and prepare a list of questions to help you gather that information.

Additionally, make sure you are prepared to answer questions about your role, background, and experience with the organization. Candidates often ask about department or organizational goals, strategies, and mission so be sure that you can elaborate on them, as this also demonstrates connectivity throughout the company.

We know the interview process can be daunting from both sides. If you would like to learn more about best practices for interviewing and ensuring a positive candidate experience, our team is here to help. Contact us today!