MightyRecruiterInterview Preparation: Creating a Guide
Most job seekers feel the heat during an interview, but the person asking the questions also bears some responsibility for the overall success of the meeting. In fact, you are more likely to find the right candidate for the job if you have adequately prepared for the interview and you ask all the right questions. How do you know what to prepare and which questions to ask Lucky for you, there is a wealth of professional resources available right at your fingertips. We have scoured books and picked the brains of experts for years to bring you every bit of information that will help you master interview preparation and hire all the right people.
Do Your Homework
The best way to fail at anything in life is to not prepare, and interviewing is no exception. You need to conduct thorough research prior to meeting with any potential applicants. Consider spending at least twice as much time in interview preparation as you will in the actual meeting. Here are some things you will want to cover during your prep time:
-Read through and study the applicants resume, cover letter and any additional correspondence you may have received. Try to understand their goals and the reason they would want this position.
-Read through the job description and gain a clear understanding of the necessary skillset.
-Speak with professionals in that position to develop a sense of important values and proficiencies.
-Ask the hiring manager to describe the most crucial skills or personality traits they desire in the applicant.
-Familiarize yourself with the role by reading educational materials in that sector.
Create an Interview Guide
Recruiting costs time and money for your company, but you can lessen both of those by hiring the right person who will ultimately increase productivity and add value. To do that, you have to start at the beginning. You can’t skip steps in the recruitment process and expect good results. We recommend starting with an interview preparation guide. It’s a structured system that allows you to focus on the most important aspects of the position, and doesn’t leave a lot of room for a ïgut feelingï to take over. Here are some sample sections of an interview guide:
-The Background
Ask the applicant questions about their education and technical skills to confirm they meet the minimum standards for the position.
-Dig Deeper
Ask a few behavioral questions (why and how questions) that are specifically aimed to reveal examples and stories from their work history. Look for key attributes you need in the position.
-Values Matching
Ask the applicant a few additional behavioral questions that are designed to reveal their personal values and level of business integrity. This allows you to see if they are a good match with your corporate values.
-Ending the Interview
Develop a plan to close the interview professionally. Instruct the applicant on the next steps, and when they should expect to hear from you.
-Ratings
Consider using an interview rating worksheet to clearly and easily view the how well the candidate matched the key attributes of the role. If there is more than one interview, you can average the scores. Encourage discussion amongst interviewers, and perhaps even debates when a difference of opinion arises.
Successful and Fair Hiring
By practicing proper interview preparation and utilizing an effective guide during your recruitment process, you are much more likely to save your company precious time and money. You can zero in on the best candidates within minutes, while also improving your own interview skills. It minimizes the opportunity for hiring mistakes and doesn’t allow for first impressions and ïgut feelingsï to rule the system, both of which are costly errors many recruiters make.
An interview preparation guide will also encourage a fair and legal hiring process by ensuring all interviewees are asked the same questions, without any illegal queries regarding marital status, children, race, age or gender interfering. This alone could save your company thousands of dollars in legal fees, and not to mention their reputation. Not only will the guide create confidence amongst you and your fellow interviewers, but it will also increase the courage of the job seeker, as they realize they are being evaluated on their skills and abilities.
Contact Mighty Recruiter Today
For more professional advice on interviewing and the recruitment process, check out the other tools and articles available on Mighty Recruiter. We are diligently trying to help you better your business by sharing valuable resources that teach you how to hire all-stars and become an expert interviewer. Check it out today.