Introduction
In today’s world of competitive hiring and exclusive employment opportunities, interviews serve as critical evaluations for both employers and prospective employees. Interviews are not only exclusive to job interviews but can be conducted for various purposes such as journalistic reasons to gain insights from sources, researchers conducting interviews for study purposes, and so on. Interviews are usually the final step in the hiring process, and it’s crucial to conduct them effectively to make the right decision.
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to conducting an interview, including tips and tricks, key considerations, and mistakes to avoid for successful interviews.
Step-by-step guide
Preparing for the interview
Before conducting the interview, research and preparation will help you conduct a successful interview. Here’s how:
- Researching the interviewee: Conduct research to have knowledge about the interviewee, achievements, and their work history. Review their resume, social media accounts, and other relevant online information.
- Choosing a location: Selecting an appropriate location is vital. Ensure the location is quiet, private, and comfortable for the interviewee.
- Creating a schedule: Create a schedule so that both interviewer and interviewee will agree upon a specific interview timeline. Provide details on the expected duration of the interview and the structure of the interview questions.
Conducting the interview
The second stage is conducting the interview. Here’s how:
- Introducing yourself and the interviewee: Begin by introducing yourself and the role you’re playing in the interview. Introduce the interviewee and what you know about them to maintain a professional and non-threatening atmosphere.
- Building rapport: Building rapport is one of the most critical steps in a successful interview because it lays the groundwork for a friendly and comfortable interview atmosphere. Begin with small talk, showing interest in the interviewee personally before moving on to formal interviewing.
- Structuring questions: Structuring questions in an interview is vital to ensure that the conversation flows smoothly and that you acquire the information required. The use of open-ended, behavioral, and situational questions encourages the interviewee to provide detailed and thoughtful responses.
- Active listening: It’s important to listen actively during the interview to analyze the interviewee’s responses and provide informed feedback. Enforce your attention on the interviewee and avoid interrupting them, observing body language signals, and ask follow-up questions to ensure you understand their responses.
Evaluating and decision making
After the interview, take your time to do the following:
- Reviewing notes: Review the notes you took during the interview to ensure you do not miss essential information. Record the responses to each question and make notes on the interviewee’s body language and behavior during the interview.
- Evaluating the interviewee’s performance: Analyze the interviewee’s responses and assess their knowledge, skills, and how well they fit the job’s requirements.
- Making a decision: The final step in conducting interviews is making a decision. Factor in all the information you have obtained, including notes, observations, and performance evaluations, to form a final decision.
Key things to consider
Structuring questions
One of the most crucial aspects of conducting an interview is the questioning process. Structuring questions serves as a key driver to the quality of information obtained. Consider the following structured types of questions:
- Open-ended questions: These types of questions avoid one-word answers and allow the interviewee to elaborate and provide detailed responses.
- Behavioral questions: These types of questions link past behavior with future behavior by allowing a respondent to tell of past experiences that reflect the desired outcome or quality in the role being interview for.
- Situational questions: These types of questions depict situations that the interviewee may face when hired for the position, providing insight into their judgment, problem-solving skills, and their approach to challenging situations.
Creating a comfortable environment
Creating a comfortable environment for the interviewee is essential in gaining an accurate representation of their abilities. Here are some tips to achieve that:
- Introducing yourself and the role: Introduce yourself and the role that you play in the interview. Presenting a relaxed yet professional environment sets the tone for a comfortable and productive interview.
- Establishing rapport: Establishing a rapport can alleviate uneasiness or nerves that the interviewee may feel coming into the interview, thus creating a comfortable environment for the interviewee.
- Maintaining control: Maintaining a level of control portrays respect and gives guidance to the interviewee while allowing the interviewee the opportunity to communicate and express themselves in a high-pressure environment.
Types of interviews
Behavioral interviews
Behavioral interviews assess past behavior and determine future behavior. They’re structured to understand how an interviewee will handle situations relevant to the position. Here’s how to conduct a successful interview for behavioral questions:
- Prepare specific guidelines: Have a structured list of all the behavioral questions, including examples of both good and poor solutions to gauge the interviewees’ responses.
- Track progress: Record all the interviewee’s answers to the behavioral questions and how the questions were asked, including tone and gestures. This information provides specific details that you can deliberate while evaluating the interviewee.
Competency-based interviews
Competency-based interviews ascertain how well an interviewee can execute assigned tasks. These interviews examine skills that align with the position’s requirements and assess how the interviewee has previously demonstrated those competencies. Here’s how to conduct a successful interview for competency-based questions:
- Prepare specific questions related to the competencies required: Have specific questions that will require the interviewee to elaborate on how they demonstrated those competencies in the past.
- Track progress: Record all the interviewee’s answers to the competency-based questions and assess their progress throughout the interview
Situational interviews
Situational interviews assess how an interviewee would deal with potential scenarios that might arise when assigned the position. These types of questions require the interviewee to assess a situation and provide a logical and analytical solution. Here’s how to conduct a successful interview for situational questions:
- Prepare specific situations that relate to the job: Produce structured hypothetical situations, explaining that they are not reflective of direct occurrences, allowing the interviewee to provide a unique but relevant response.
- Record responses: Record all the interviewee’s answers to the situational-based questions, allowing you to determine the individual’s problem-solving abilities and the proposed solutions.
Common mistakes to avoid
Asking leading or biased questions
Asking leading and biased questions can influence an interviewee’s responses, resulting in inaccurate representations of their abilities. Here are some examples and how to rephrase such questions:
- Example of a leading question: “You have experience in marketing teams, right?”
Rephrased question: “Can you tell me your experience with marketing in the teams you’ve worked with before?” - Example of a biased question: “Considering your experience, do you think you are a good fit for this position?”
Rephrased question: “What relevant experiences have you had that will help you in this position?”
Failing to listen actively
It’s essential to be attentive and active when interviewing and to regularly make notes during the process. Active listening entails the following steps:
- Observing body language
- Asking open-ended questions
- Waiting until the interviewee finishes to respond
- Asking for clarifications when unclear
Rushing the interview process
Rushing through an interview process can lead to serious inaccuracies in assessments and reduce candidate confidence in the hiring process. Creating a structured interview with allocated time ensures a thorough interview is conducted. Here are some tips for managing time during an interview:
- Prepare timeframes for specific questions
- Stick to the time allocation and monitor time
- Always allow time for the interviewee to ask questions
Perspectives of interviewers
Benefits of hearing from experienced interviewers
Getting input from experienced interviewers can enlighten one on the variations and logistics of different types and styles of interviews. Hearing the experiences of different interviewers may provide unique perspectives that you never thought of.
Tips and tricks for conducting a successful interview
Some tips and tricks to conduct a successful interview include:
- Research the interviewee
- Establishing a rapport
- Structure questions
- Active listening
- Take time to evaluate candidates
- Create a comfortable environment
- Avoid common mistakes
- Allocate enough time for the interview process
Personal experiences and perspectives
Interviewers may have various experiences with interviewing techniques that worked and did not work. Sharing personal insights, challenges, and mistakes and how they corrected them may help others.
Conclusion
Conducting interviews requires careful preparation, planning, and technique. It’s essential to learn from past interviews and continually improve the interview process. Remember to create a comfortable, structured environment for the interviewee, actively listen, avoid common mistakes, and allocate enough time for the interview process. With these techniques, you are bound to conduct a successful interview that yields the perfect candidate for the job.
