Prepare

• Arrange for a quiet, private space to conduct your interviews. Clear your schedule and allow ample uninterrupted time.
  
  
• Ease any tension, establish a rapport, introduce yourself, offer a non-alcoholic beverage, be courteous, and make the candidate welcome.
• Review the job description. Know and understand what the job is all about so you can make a judgment about the candidates fit for the job.
• Prepare questions in advance. Ask specific questions about areas of expertise relating to the job to test actual knowledge.
  
  
• Tell the candidate the purpose of the interview. Give candidates an approximate length of time for the interview and explain that you'll check references and work history.
• Prepare questions that are related to a person's capacity to do the job. Avoid questions relating to age, marital status, child-care arrangements, religious practices, racial background or physical disability. For further clarification, please see the EEOC's web site.

Conduct

• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times, not an attitude of superiority. Sit or stand so that you can maintain direct eye contact--without staring. Your eyes will indicate your feelings, so watch it!
• Watch your words and your tone of voice so that you maintain a professional, cordial atmosphere. Be sure that your body language supports your words and tone of voice!
• Give yourself time to listen for the real answers. Don't rush.
• Let the candidate do most of the talking. If you're talking more than 20 percent of the time during the interview, you're talking too much. Get out your list of questions, then listen.
• Treat each candidate as an individual. Recognize him or her as a person of value and worth, whether or not you intend to hire this person.
• Give the candidate time to ask questions. If the applicant asks meaningful and thoughtful questions, you can gain additional insight into his/her thinking process and long-term goals.

So, let's summarize...

This site was created and is maintained by Amy J Nelson, Phd.
2006 All rights reserved.