HR Secrets: 5 Interview Tips to Help You Screen for Superstars – and Screen Out Short Timers

Posted on Jan 31, 2012 in Hiring Hub | 0 comments

Finding the perfect employee is becoming harder and harder.  With our current economic times, you have to look beyond the stressed-out applicant and short-timers to find the perfect fit. Interviewing is one way to learn more about the candidates. Everyone can learn to interview effectively. It just takes practice. Here are some things to do in order to make sure your screening process works:

1. Recognize that first impressions can be deceiving. Candidates can be nervous, not dressed the way you expected or just off their game that day. Try to get beyond your first impressions until you have more information on the candidate.

2. Focus on the positive. Listen to all the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, don’t just focus on the weaknesses. Sometimes, the positives will outweigh the negatives.

3. Have all the information. Sometimes, a candidate may be interviewing for a job that he or she might not understand. This candidate should try to get all the facts about the position and the people in the department, etc. before or during the interview. As a hiring manager, recognize that you can’t really judge someone if you don’t understand the job they will be doing and the environment they will be doing it in. Also recognize that you might not have made all of the material available necessary to provide an applicant a clear understanding of the job and its scope. In that case, take time to articulate these things in the interview.

4. Rate each candidate on their own merit. When you are interviewing many candidates, you might be tempted to rate one candidate against another. Base your rating on each individual candidate and whether you feel they can do the job.

5. Question strategically. To find the right candidate, question and keep questioning. Questions on skills and work behaviors will usually get the most information.

Finally, notice how other people at the company interview prospects … as their techniques can help or teach you what not to do. The best interviewers can put people at ease and then question them until they have all the answers they want. In the art of interviewing, practice does make perfect!