How to Conduct an Interview in 5 Steps

By Eva M Lee

 

As an interviewer, it’s your job to hire the best candidate for the company. For this, you need to prepare the interview process systematically. The next step is to conduct the interview, and it is not an easy job as you need to set many standards and judge candidates very minutely. If you are not clear with what qualities or skills you are looking for in them, then you would end up hiring a wrong candidate. Being an interviewer, you need to be confident enough as you are going to set an example on how hiring activities can lead to company’s progress.

 

1. Provide the candidates with necessary information

If you expect candidates to give their 100%, then make sure you brief them properly. Right from the interview venue, to date, time, date and how long the interview is going to take place. Documents which need to be carried, what all interview rounds would be conducted, and job description for the position applied. The candidate should be aware of the company background. If they are not, you need to provide them information. Not delivering clear information to the candidates may make them have misconception about the company.

 

2. Prepare for the interview

Make a checklist of what qualities you are looking for in the candidate. Prepare a list of questions on which you will be able to judge his or her capabilities. There may be a few questions that are generic and other specific to the job role. On the spot, you may need to alter few questions considering the background of the individual. Go through the resume carefully and get to know the candidates’ work history. For getting to know about their hobbies and interests, you can look them up on social media and ask questions accordingly.

 

3. Brief regarding the company and profile

After introducing yourself to the candidate, you should spend some time briefing the candidate on the company’s background, what it is into, the job description and responsibilities. The candidate should be well-aware of the company and the job profile details.

 

4. Guide with the next steps

After every single interview process, let the candidate know where and when the next round is conducted and whom to meet. If the candidate has to leave for the day, let him or her know when you would contact. If you say you would give them a call within a few days, then make sure you stick to it. It is not appropriate to keep the candidates hanging after the interview rounds.

 

5. Reflect your opinion

During the interview, if you feel like writing down some important information that can help in taking decisions, then note down those points. The information can be about current CTC, expected CTC, notice period, etc. which are not mentioned in the resume. After the interview, spare some time to evaluate the interview and jot them down. If you find him or her employable, but want to look for a better candidate, tell the candidate that the result will be declared after interviewing other candidates.

Conducting an interview is an art, for which one needs to be well-trained and confident. You can follow the above mentioned 5 steps which will make it easy for finding and hiring an appropriate candidate. Conducting interviews following these tips would definitely give the candidates a good experience of being interviewed and even the candidates who aren’t hired will something from meeting you. As just getting hired is not a dream of everyone, and few do treat attending interviews as a part of the self-improvement process.

 

 

About

Eva Lee is an Enterprise Software Technology project Manager who also enjoy’s writing, as a side interest, Eva started writing the blogs and articles on Resumes, Career oriented topics and other various topics too.Also, have a mastery of how to face an interview from Freshers to High Profile Jobs writings and is contributor to BSR