A job interview can make or break the interest of both the company and the candidate. If you want to hire the best possible person for your job opening, you’d better conduct the best possible interview. Follow these five steps from Madison Approach Staffing to do just that:
1. Clearly define the role and responsibilities. First off, you want to make sure you are interviewing a qualified candidate. The best way to ensure this is by clearly defining the position and its responsibilities in the job posting.
2. Explain the interview process to each candidate. When reaching out to the candidate to schedule an interview, don’t just settle on a date and time. Let them know exactly what to expect: where they will interview, who they will interview with, how long the process will take. Being as transparent as possible from the beginning will help the candidate prepare, and ultimately help you conduct a better interview.
3. Start simple to relax the candidate. Job interviews can be stressful, and your candidate is probably at least a little bit nervous. A good way to break the ice and ease their nerves is by asking simple, personal questions such as, “tell me a little bit about yourself,” or even, “how was the drive to our office? Did you find it okay?”
4. Ask open-ended and follow-up questions. Too often, interviewers do too much talking and too little listening. Avoid dominating the conversation by asking open-ended questions, which require the candidate to respond with more than a simple yes or no. Further following up on these questions can take you past generic responses and into genuine, revealing answers.
5. Include concrete follow-up instructions. Don’t just end the interview with, “that’s it, thanks for coming!” Provide the candidate with any instructions you may have for them, and be clear about when you intend to follow up with them.
Having trouble finding qualified candidates for your business? Madison Approach Staffing can help. As the leading staffing firm in Westchester County, New York, we are dedicated to making sure that every match is a perfect fit for both the candidate and the company. Visit our website to learn how we can help grow your business, or give us a call at (914) 428-4800.
