Evaluating candidates in the middle of the hiring process is not easy. You can use several techniques of the interview process to assess their suitability for the job. Some successful interview techniques and tips for a successful interview are as follows:
- Asking the right questions
- Using different formats to test their skills
- Have an effective pitch
- Check your biases
- Ask other recruiters for help or advice
Crafting compelling interview questions
Interview questions are one of the best means to assess a candidate. If a recruiter has the right set of questions, they can use them to check an applicant’s suitability. You can use these types of interview techniques to find out if a candidate has both skills and aptitude for this job:
- Ask behavioral questions and give them hypothetical situations to understand their thinking process.
- Avoid repetitive or standard questions while interviewing. Your questions should be unique, in a way that the shortcomings of the candidate are revealed.
- Look for people with a great attitude and a refreshing perspective toward the job role.
- Frame interview questions to understand if their skills align with the job requirements.
Experimenting with different interview formats
There is no fixed method to take an interview. You can use both unstructured and structured interview methods to assess a candidate.
Unstructured interviews can create a more relaxed atmosphere for both the interviewer and the candidate. But they aren’t efficient for testing them. There are no open-ended questions or simulated environments to assess your candidates’ responses.
Structured interviews allow more freedom for recruiters to check applicants on fixed parameters. The interview processes follow specific patterns and the rating methods are also standard. They are a better indicator of how a candidate will perform in an actual job environment.
Preparing the pitch
Candidates are not the only ones evaluated in an interview. Interviewers have to sell their company and the job role to attract the right sort of applicants. Interview skills also matter. They must prepare a well-drafted pitch for job seekers. A good elevator pitch includes the following:
- The vision and mission of their organization.
- Plans for expansion and diversification
- Initiatives to support their employees through personal or professional challenges.
- The job profile plays a vital role in achieving organizational goals and objectives.
- Scope for a candidate to express their capabilities within the job role.
- Contribution of this job profile to the organization’s success story.
- Wellness initiatives to boost employee morale.
Keeping the biases aside
Every individual has their own set of biases. However, Recruitment Bias is a known phenomenon. It is important to challenge these biases, especially while conducting interviews. These steps will help you overcome bias while taking interviews when interacting with candidates:
- Identifying your biases through self-reflection and consulting trained specialists to counter them.
- Learn more about specific events or triggers that activate your biases. This will help you address and nullify them over some time.
- Prevent irrelevant information from clouding your judgment during interviews. If something doesn’t affect a candidate’s performance, it shouldn’t prevent their selection.
- Never make quick judgments about candidates. You must make a hiring decision only after a comprehensive evaluation process.
Knowing when to seek advice
It is essential to seek help from experienced and skilled recruiters who know how to take an interview. You can also read several interview types-related PDF books for more clarity. Interview preparation is a must! It can help you in the following situations:
- While reviewing possible interview techniques and questions to gauge their effectiveness. It will in turn help you refine your skills.
- Conduct mock interviews to perfect the art of probing your candidates. It will give you more confidence during the actual process.
- Attend training courses to learn more about how to interview job seekers. Learning new skills is always a good thing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the effective interview techniques?
Here are a few tips on interviewing techniques:
- Put the applicant at ease. Make eye contact and establish rapport by finding a shared topic to talk about before you get down to the hard questions.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Listen more, talk less.
- Take notes.
- Understand what you can’t ask.
What are the interview techniques for the interviewer?
Interviewers when interviewing candidates, open on a positive note. Greet interviewees on time and make them feel welcome. Smile, offer them something to drink, and maintain eye contact. Ease them in the process.
What are the 3 main stages of an interview?
Most jobs can be broken down into three phases of an interview: Introduction, Getting to Know You, and Closing.
