There is evidence that most job interviews are ineffective because hiring managers do not properly prepare for the hiring process. Knowing how to conduct a job interview is the most important part of the hiring manager’s job and nothing can replace successful job interview practices.
This article will look at three methods to conduct a successful job interview.
Do Your Homework
If you’re looking to learn how to conduct a job interview, you need to know that successful job interviews start before they begin. Before the interview begins it’s important for the hiring manager to do his or her homework first, Here are some tips for preparing for a job interview.
Review The Job Description
Before doing anything else, an interviewer should look at the job description. They should ask themselves questions like, “What does someone need to know to do this job,” “What personality traits work best for this type of work,” and “What would make someone stand out in an interview for this kind of job?”
These questions help the interviewer get a sense for what they should look for in an employee. These types of questions help focus the interviewer’s attention and remove unimportant or distracting details from the interview process.
Verify Over The Resume
The next step is to verify what the applicants have on their resumes. Look over reference letters to see what former employers and coworkers have to say about their work. Verify their work history and the responsibilities associated with those positions.
Verifying applicant resumes serves a twofold purpose. First, it lets the employer know that the applicant is who they say they are. Second, it gives the employer an idea for how qualified an applicant is in comparison to others.
Outline What You’re Looking For In An Employee
This goes above and beyond reviewing the job description. A hiring manager will want to list skill sets and abilities necessary to meet the job’s requirements, but there are other characteristics that are important look for too.
Every company has a unique company culture and certain people will thrive in one culture but not in another. Aside from required skill sets, a hiring manager should ask, “What type of person would do well in our workplace?”
Do you need someone who can do their job without constantly watching? Do you need someone who communicates at every step in the process? Does your company put an emphasis on co-worker relationships, or is everyone in their cubicles trying to reach a deadline? These personality differences will make a difference in the workplace.
Write these characteristics down, as well as the necessary skill sets, so you can focus on how one applicant compares to another in a meaningful way.
Prepare For The Interview
Now that you’ve reviewed their resume and have a list of characteristics and skill sets written down, it’s time to prepare for the interview. Interview questions are similar to good employee engagement questions. The point of good interview questions isn’t to find more surface level information about the applicant, but to dig deeper.
Some bad interview questions include:
- Why do you think you would be a good employee?
- Tell me about your work history.
- Do you consider yourself to be a problem solver?
- Do you work well with others?
- Why do you want this job?
Here are those same questions reworded to make them better:
- What is your preferred work style?
- Can you give me X examples of how your past jobs prepared you for this position?
- Give me an example of when you came across a problem at work and had to solve it.
- How do you feel most appreciated as an employee?
- How does this job or company fit in with your long-term career goals?
Look For The Right Qualities
As the applicant answers these questions, look to see how their answers address those character requirements as well as the skill set requirements you wrote down earlier. Make sure to jot down notes related to these requirements so you can review and compare them later. Also, write notes related to those qualities that make them an above and beyond candidate if possible.
Try your best to ignore other qualities or details that are not important to the job. Those details usually only serve as a distraction.
Conclusion
Those who want to learn how to conduct a job interview will quickly find out there is no perfect method. But there are best practices that will point the interviewer in the right direction. A successful job interview is all about identifying the essential characteristics and skill sets necessary for that specific job and looking to see which applicant best demonstrates those traits and skills.
Hopefully, you’ll feel better prepared to field applicants and fill that job opening.
Contact The Computer Merchant today or call (800)-617-6172 for one of our representatives to assist you.
