Top Interviewing Tips For Employers

One of the most critical jobs for an employer is engaging in interviews. The interview may be the most important part of the overall employee screening process. It is used as a filtration device, filtering out those who do not have the right qualifications or the appropriate temperament for a given position.

It can be said that conducting good interviews is both an art and a science. You need to have mastered the art of communication. This is because you have to be able to properly convey the requirements of a particular position, and also to be able to listen attentively to determine whether a given candidate will meet your organization's needs. Yet, you also need a scientist's ability to ask penetrating questions in order to determine the truth. Here are a few tips you can use for interviewing effectively:

Ask open-ended questions

It is important whenever possible to ask open-ended questions. First of all, this allows you to draw out a candidate, getting a feel for his or her personality. It can also often yield some surprising answers, giving you key insights into a person's thinking.

Open-ended questions also provide you with an understanding of how a given individual will react under pressure. This is vitally important, since today's corporate workplace is often a high-pressure environment. If you simply ask a person "yes" or "no" questions, you will gather facts, but not much substantive information.

Take a positive approach

It is important when interviewing to take a positive approach whenever possible. No one likes to be put on the defensive especially a job candidate. If you adopt a positive attitude, it is likely that each job applicant will respond in kind. That means that each prospective employee will be giving you the best possible performance during a given interview.

Take the time to really listen

The ability to listen well is an acquired skill. It takes a great deal of practice to be able to figure out exactly what another person is saying. You must pay careful attention to an individual's specific words. Otherwise, you could be left with a false impression. You will be able to demonstrate that you are an active listener through the follow-up questions you ask. Not only will you gain a great deal of information through active listening you will also put your interviewee at ease.

Be sure to schedule follow-up interviews

Gone are the days when you could learn everything you needed to know about a given candidate through a single interview. Instead, you must be able to schedule follow-up interviews with your top candidates. In this way, you can delve in-depth into an individual's background and qualifications. At times, you might want to even include a test as part of the interview. With so many qualified candidates around, you want to do everything you possibly can to learn as much as you can about each applicant. That way, you can assure yourself that you are making a wise choice.

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