How to Conduct a Successful Interview

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According to The Department of Labor’s latest findings, the year ended with theunemployment rate at 8.5%, the lowest in nearly three years. While the unemployment situation is showing signs of improvement there are still 13.1 million people unemployed.  A recent survey from CareerBuilder found that small businesses are reporting more confidence in both hiring and retaining headcount in 2012.  Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder states, “Many companies have been operating lean and have already pushed productivity limits.  We’re likely to see gradual improvements in hiring across categories as companies respond to increased market demands.”  Considering the millions of people currently unemployed it would seem that finding qualified candidates would be a simple task.  However, finding skilled and qualified workers is getting more competitive than ever before. 

If your business is planning to hire for the New Year there are many factors to consider.  Since every company’s needs are different, it is extremely important to have a well developed plan in place when qualifying and interviewing candidates. The main goal of the interview process is to effectively assess the qualifications of the applicant. During this process it is important to remember that qualifications are not the only thing you should be looking for when hiring on a new employee. Communication skills, personality, flexibility, and professional appearance are just some of the factors that should be considered when it comes to the selection process. 

It is important that hiring managers know what to say, what to ask, and what to do to match and fit the right person to the job. Before interviewing, write down the characteristics the ideal candidate should possess and then base your interview questions from there. When conducting the interview try to make the interviewee as comfortable as possible and break the ice to make them feel more at ease. Take the time to explain the job description and address any problems they may encounter daily on the job. It is also important that the candidate is a good cultural fit for your company. During the interview, ask them specific questions about the environment they feel the most comfortable and happy working in. Furthermore, you want to ensure you are asking questions that let you know if the candidate can do the job, if they are a team player, and how they function under pressure.To get as much information as possible from the candidate avoid yes or no questions. Open ended questions are a much better approach because they require the applicant to provide specific details and examples. 

Here are four key things to consider during the interview process: 

• Look beyond interview skills - Candidates may be nervous or have rusty interview skills, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be a good fit for your organization.

• Pay attention to body language - Body language can reveal more information than you think about a person.  If a candidate can’t make eye contact and fails to elaborate while answering questions they may be lacking certain social skills that are required for the job.

• Ask about past behavior - Base the interview on past job performance and ask industry and or job specific questions that relate to their resume.  If a candidates resume shows they have jumped around a lot and have not been working steadily that may be a red flag.  Ask them what caused them to leave the jobs that they were only at for a few months.  This will help you understand more about their work ethic and behavior.

• Take notes - It is important to keep in mind that you may be seeing several candidates in one day.  It would be nearly impossible to remember all the qualities that stuck out regarding a specific candidate.  That is why it is important to take detailed notes and to not rely strictly on your memory. 

Remember that the time spent in an interview with a potential employee may be the most important time you spend with them. Gathering as much information as possible during the interview will help you make sure you are hiring employees whose personalities and attitude fit your company’s culture.