How to Lead an Interview
Conducting a job interview is about selecting the best people fit for the job. It can be tedious at times, but you should see to it that you maintain high standards every time you do one. Here’s how to lead an interview effectively.
Identify What You Need
Conducting an interview and selecting candidates typically involve the best combination of credentials and experience, but you should remember why you’re hiring in the first place. As an employer, focus on the business need before learning how to give an interview. Try avoiding any time killer conversations that will not help you identify if this candidate will be the right fit.
Identify the critical need by looking at what needs to be solved at work and what qualities does the individual have to possess to be effective in solving problems. To know how to conduct a job interview well, avoid picking people who just have an impressive resume but lack the qualities you really need to target business needs.
Looking for the most skilled and experienced candidates is usually done on how to lead an interview, but work attitude is often overlooked by most employers. You can find someone who can answer questions involving banner printing resolution or defining call barging, among other technical skills. As you learn how to conduct a job interview right, you’ll realize that there are a lot of skilled people out there but only a select few exhibit good foundational and people skills.
Any job requires collaboration and looking at technical skills alone defeats the purpose of how to conduct a good interview. Ask the receptionist how the candidates waiting in the lobby are doing. Every candidate puts their best foot forward in front of the bosses, but how they treat other people also counts. This goes back to the principle of how to conduct a good interview.
Set Expectations and Ask Effectively
Setting clear expectations at the onset of an interview is a great start on how to lead an interview. Specifically state the venue and date of the interview as well as the people who will be doing it to avoid having loose ends. When conducting an interview, you should leave a good impression on any candidate that your company values integrity by showing transparency and practicing professionalism throughout the interview process. If you are unsure if you are an effective leader, then you will need to practice these skills beforehand.
When interviewing someone, asking follow-up questions helps you to know them better. It allows you to explore their insights and experiences further as you ask them to expound on things, enabling you to gauge if they show the character and skills you are looking for. For instance, when conducting an interview for a candidate who has prior experience in a call center, ask about call center improvement strategies or the differences between an onshore and offshore company.
When conducting an interview, you should allow candidates to ask you anything to make them feel they are welcomed. Give them time to know your company better. Answer their questions openly and candidly but avoid ‘selling’ your company. Good candidates can sense if they can be a great match for your company even without all the flowery words used to attract them.
Towards the end of the interview, let the candidate know what comes next. Be professional at all times, even to people who didn’t qualify. Always acknowledge concerns and applications by letting them know of your decision. It is rude to just leave people hanging, especially when they have shown eagerness to work for you.
Wrap up the application process nicely for every candidate, regardless of the results of their interview. Ending an interview professionally is always a good path to take.
Do Your Part
Making the interview light and conversational is one way of how to give an interview professionally. An interview shouldn’t be an uncomfortable interrogation. Interviewees feel comfortable to volunteer information if the way you talk to them is friendly and professional. Build rapport and stay engaged so you can get the answers you need to hear. Being a great leader can really help you out in these types of situations.
This works best if you have narrowed down your selection to just a few. After reading the resume and trying to read between the lines, conduct a social media check to find out the candidate’s interests. You can also take note of possible references you can use by finding people you know in the candidate’s network through social media or SMS marketing. Your goal is not to act as a creepy stalker but as a responsible employer who knows how your employees fare outside work.
Conduct another interview if needed to make sure that you are indeed on the right track. May you have a doubt or none, taking that one extra step is a good precaution to avoid having regrets later. Good candidates won’t mind going through another session, as they are also willing to take another opportunity before deciding to take the job.
Conducting a job interview is a long process but once you got all of these steps covered, it’s time for you to give an enthusiastic offer. Don’t downplay your accomplishment as you hired the right person for the job. Make the successful candidate know that they are worth the time and effort you spent during the application process.