The Interviewer’s Survival Guide
Everyone knows job interviews can be excruciating, and not just for the person in the hot seat. They can be the most uncomfortable part of the hiring process for both the interviewer and the interviewee.
Interviewing candidates can be stressful for a number of reasons. You want to be able to recognize the people who won't be a good fit because your reputation is on the line if you hire the wrong person (and you certainly don’t want to have to go through the interview process all over again).
At the same time, you don’t want to scare away the ideal candidate. There's a lot of pressure on you to find someone that will do the job well, fit well within your company culture, and be enjoyable to work with. Then there's the part where you have to convince them that they actually want to work with you.
What Can You Do?
There's a lot of information out there to help candidates prepare for interviews, but what about the people stressing out about doing the interviewing? We've compiled some tips to help you get through it.
Be Prepared
You only get one shot to learn as much as you can to help you make your decision, whether that's hiring the person or sending them onto the next round of interviews. Think long and hard about the kind of information you're trying to gather during the interview and the types of questions that will help you get it (you'll find a ton of resources online with some great suggestions).
It's also crucial to familiarize yourself with each candidate and their resume. This will help you figure out the questions you want to ask, and help you save time by not asking the ones you already have answers to.
Relax
Easier said than done, right? Remember – you're in the driver's seat. The candidate wants to impress you, but if you relax and welcome them into a comfortable environment, it will be easier for them, and you, to do the next thing…
Be Yourself
It's just as important for the interviewer to be genuine as it is for the interviewee. If you're not, you're bound to be in for a lot of surprises after the hire is complete, and those could be good or bad, but who wants to gamble on that?
One tip you can try is asking open-ended questions (rather than tricky ones that put them on the spot), which can lead to genuine conversations that encourage the candidate to show you who they really are.
Listen
Don't feel like you need to fill the silence or guide the conversation toward the answers you want to hear. Ask your open-ended questions and listen to everything the candidate has to say. They might just reveal a lot more than you thought. People love to talk about themselves!
Be Honest
It's important to be honest with the candidate about what to expect with the job. If you're concerned certain details might scare them away, then you don't want them doing the job anyway. This includes explaining the expectations clearly from the start, so you can avoid disappointment down the road, and not waste time by having to start the interview process all over again.
Break a Leg!
With adequate preparation, you can make the interview process a lot less stressful, and improve your chances of finding your next superstar employee.
