Tips for the Interviewer

Some thoughts on the candidate interview

Most of our posts are focused on the candidate, but this time we wanted to put the spotlight on the interviewers, and company recruiters.  Everyone will have their own style and approach, so even if you pick up one new idea, it could make the experience for the candidate a better one.

Here are some tips on how to properly interview a candidate

Brand Ambassador

  • Sounds obvious, but YOU are the brand ambassador; chances are that you will be the first person from the company that the interviewee will see/meet so make sure you make a good first impression.
  • If the candidate ends up taking a job in your company, they will remember the experience; be it positive or negative.
  • Be on time, and of course be friendly to you guest. Make them feel at ease; as they could be feeling nervous, and in some cases, they might end up being your boss!
  • If other employees are not too busy, it would be nice to get the candidate to meet them; this way you can see how they interact with other members of staff, also, it introduces them to the office life and staff they could be working alongside. We are always surprised when interviewers never give their preferred candidates a glimpse of their work environment – until the day they start.

Salary

Try to enter the interview room with a good idea on what your salary framework is.  If it's not your call, talk to HR or the hiring person and decide what salary and benefits you can get approved. Far too often the negotiation breaks down because the interviewer sets false expectations with the candidate.

Ask behavioural open-ended questions

For example “tell me how you felt when”, avoid questions where the candidate can give a yes/no answer, you need to open up the conversation and probe into their past experiences.

Be aware of the nonverbal signals 

We often hear that the interviewer talked about him/herself nonstop. Please be aware that – although you may have a HUGE passion for your job and company, it’s the candidate that should be doing most of the talking.

Understand the role you are interviewing for

It’s so important that you understand and can talk about the job you are interviewing for. This will not only help you sell the job to the candidate in question, but also make them have a positive impression of both you and your company.

Remember to follow up

Whether the candidate was / or was not a good match for your company, please remember to follow up and give some feedback, the phrase "win or learn" comes into play here. Whether your feedback loop is with your internal managers or the recruitment firm, this part of the process is considerate and makes YOU look professional, so it's important that you remember to 'top and tail' the process.