Tips on How To Conduct an Interview

If your company is hiring and you have the task of conducting an interview, here are some simple tips for conducting an interview that can be quite effective.

Conducting an interview is an easy task if you are well prepared.  When you schedule the interview, make sure to allow sufficient time to go over the applicant's resume and application. If you will not be making the hiring decision right away, let them know when to expect an answer back.  A good time frame would be by the end of the week. This will give you time to check their work references and conduct a background check.

Your company may already have a service to do background investigations, but if not a simple internet search should provide you with some choices. If the applicant has listed a degree or certificate, you should check those credentials as well. People have been known to be less than honest on application forms.

Listed below are some simple tips on how to conduct an interview:

1. Have everything ready. Be sure to have their Application, Resume, Job Description and Payroll forms. Preparation is the key to conducting a good interview. You want everything to go smoothly and quickly, because you may be doing several interviews in a day. You'll need to be prepared for each one and have a time limit.
2. Have a list of evaluation questions ready. You want to know how this person will react in real life situations such as a fire, handling an upset or angry customer, or following basic directions. It is helpful to ask questions about their last job, how they handled tough situations in the past. At least 2 or 3 examples would be good. A good opening line would be something like "Tell me about a time when you.......
3. Observe and Take notes.  Do they have a good firm handshake?  Did they dress appropriately for the interview? Do they seem confident and display knowledge of the needed skills? Do they use proper grammar and sentence structure? Do they maintain good eye contact and answer question without hesitation?

All of these are important observations, as this gives you a little insight into this person's behavior. If they display negative traits such as improper language, use of slang words, inappropriate attire, and seem to lack good social skills this is probably not a good match for your company. By the end of this interview, you will have a good indication in your mind if this person will fit your company's needs.

And lastly, ask the applicant if they have any questions for you, and be sure to have answers ready to questions that someone may likely ask. Thank them for their time, and give a friendly handshake. Let them know when they can expect a reply back.