Many employees who are in a position of management will, at some time or another, be required to interview a number of candidates to assess competence for job vacancies that arise. In order to be a competent and effective interviewer, various skills must be employed. This will ensure that the candidate who is eventually hired is perfect for the job.
The Preparation of an Interviewer Before the Interview Takes Place
As with many tasks within business, good preparation is vital. Many job vacancies have hundreds of applicants, particularly in times of high unemployment like those seen around the world in recent years. Therefore, a competent interviewer must carry out the following preparation:
- Know the Job Roles and Responsibilities. Knowing exactly what the position entails in terms of required tasks and responsibilities is crucial in being able to form insightful and informative questions to be asked during the interview. If needs be, the interviewer should spend some time with employees already in a similar role to understand more about the vacancy being offered.
- List Key Questions. The preparation carried out will identify key questions which will need to be asked to each applicant in order to obtain information about them. Questions that are pertinent to the job role and which will reveal the knowledge of the candidate will prove to be vital when making the final decision.
- Review Each Resume or CV. Aside from the key questions to be asked during the interview, a thorough review of each Curriculum Vitae or resume will enable the interviewer to tailor additional questions which are specific to the applicant, and which will reveal more about the applicant's personality, experience or history.
The Role of the Interviewer During the Interview
- Welcome the Applicant Warmly. The majority of candidates arriving for a job interview will be nervous, and so a friendly welcome will assist them in relaxing, which will prompt them to answer questions with increased honesty, giving the interviewer a greater insight into the candidate's capabilities.
- Explain the Interview Process. This will prepare the applicant for what to expect during the interview, and provide the opportunity for any initial questions.
- Sell the Company to the Applicant. A good applicant, with plenty of experience and many relevant qualifications will be in high demand within the industry. Therefore, the interview is as much about the company selling themselves to the applicant as it is the applicant proving their suitability to the company.
- Ask Open Ended Questions. Questions that have a simple "yes" or "no" answer will reveal nothing to the interviewer about the applicant. Instead, the interviewer should ask questions that will prompt the candidate to give more detail and elaboration, providing the interviewer with valuable information.
- Ask Specific Questions to Establish Credentials. The interviewer should attempt to reveal how the applicant would react in situations which may arise within the job role. Questions that begin "Give me an example when you..." or "How did you resolve your last conflict within a business?" will provide vital information as to the applicant's suitability for the role.
- Seek to Uncover the Real Applicant. Many – if not all – applicants will endeavour to give a good impression, which may belie their true nature and character. The interviewer should ask incisive questions to attempt to reveal the true personality of the interviewee.
- Establish Personal Skills. An applicant may be perfectly qualified and have much experience, but if they are likely to clash with their colleagues, then suitability for the vacancy must be questioned. The interviewer must ensure that the skills of the applicant cover all requirements for the job role being offered.
The interviewer has an unenviable task: to assess the suitability of a candidate within a relatively short time frame and with limited information. It is the role of a good interviewer to establish as much as they can about the applicant with the use of well-structured and insightful questions, whilst promoting the company itself to the potential employee.
Ben Wakeling - Lives in England with his wife and two children. Loves writing, photography, and slouching. Ben is currently posting extracts on a blog ...
