Interview Techniques to Conduct an Effective Interview

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An interview is the most important part of the recruitment process. The interviewer must ensure that they are evaluating each candidate thoroughly. Interviewing isn’t easy, and it can be difficult to know where to start or what questions to ask. A lot of things go into the process of interviewing someone. If done correctly, it has the potential to make your hiring decision a lot easier. 

As a recruiter, interviewer, you want to conduct an effective interview that will provide the best candidates for the position. Interview techniques can be tricky, and it’s important to know what questions to ask as well as how to conduct yourself during your interview.

Questions to conduct an effective interview

Here are some techniques for conducting effective interviews:

  1. Choose a peaceful location for the interview

A quiet space will allow the interviewer to connect with the candidate without being distracted. The interviewer needs to make sure they have a peaceful place where the candidate feels comfortable and can focus on what is being said. 

Candidates do not want people around them to listen to their conversations. A private space will give the interviewer and candidate time for in-depth discussion without distraction.

  1. Prepare a list of interview questions beforehand

It is important to prepare a list of interview questions in advance that the interviewer can ask the candidates. The interviewer needs to prepare both open-ended and structured questions to get the most out of the interview process. 

The number of questions will vary depending on how long each stage lasts – the initial phone screen should consist of 5-10 questions, while longer interviews require 10-15 open-ended questions.

An interviewer should also be prepared to answer any question the candidate might have about the position or company and provide information about their experience with similar jobs. 

Interview questions must be relevant to the job being interviewed for because it will help them gauge how qualified someone is for said job.  

  1. Start strong

The interview process is a two-way street. While giving an interview, it’s common for interviewees to be nervous, so the interviewer should help ease them into a relaxed state as soon as they walk in. 

A better idea of an applicant’s abilities and personality can result in making them feel comfortable during the interview. To get the most out of their interviews, interviewers should create an atmosphere that promotes communication. 

Before starting with prepared questions, the interviewer could ease tensions by encouraging applicants to talk about something on which they have expertise – maybe even something from experience or interest listed in resume sections?

It is always a good idea to tell the candidates about the steps in the interview process so they can plan their responses mentally ahead of time.

  1. Review the candidate’s resume carefully

One of the most important interview approaches is to take the time to properly examine each candidate’s resume and/or cover letter just before the interview. That way, you’ll be able to get important details about the prospect quickly.

Instead of asking direct interview-specific questions, start the conversation by asking the candidate to explain and elaborate on details or points in their resume, such as experiences and skills.

Examining a candidate’s resume thoroughly will help you formulate the right questions, guide conversation, and gain a better understanding of how well the candidate’s skills and experience match the job role.

  1. Find out more through follow-up questions

Interviewers should ask the interviewer follow-up questions to better understand their skills and qualifications. This can be difficult for a lot of people, but it is worth it as it will help you determine whether they are qualified for the job role. A good way to start this is by asking the interviewers to elaborate more on their answers. 

Doing so will give you more information about their personality, work experience, and way of thinking.

  1. Consider holding a group interview

For many organizations, the traditional interview process is simply inadequate. In these cases, you may consider bringing in multiple candidates as part of a group interview. This interview technique works best when recruiting a large number of people for similar jobs quickly.

By giving the interviewee an assignment along with the others involved, you can assess the candidate’s teamwork skills and ability to apply their professional skills to a task. 

  1. Follow up after the interview

Even if you decide not to be offered the job, it’s important to let the candidate know rather than hang them. 

Follow-up shows that the company respected the candidates’ time and effort, as well as built an excellent reputation for future candidates who want to do the job. Once you have made your choice, give successful candidates a call and tell them the good news – whether it’s making them an offer or scheduling a future round of interviews. 

Be sure to thank unsuccessful candidates for their time. Send an email highlighting what they did well and why you made the decision.

An effective interview can lead to better hires and more productive employees. However, interviewing people is not always easy- there are different strategies that employers should follow to conduct successful interviews.

If your hiring process is not automated, you could be missing out on the best candidates. Webbtree will help you find and hire qualified employees with ease. With easy feedback submission and the ability to schedule interviews with calendar invites at the click of a button, Webbtree makes it easier than ever before to track and interview candidates.

With Webbtree ATS, businesses can more quickly identify high-quality candidates. We know how challenging it is to find top-notch employees for your organization, and with Webbtree ATS, you can go from sourcing to nurturing candidates in 15 seconds! 

You can find a full list of features offered by Webbtree ATS here.

Contact us today to learn more about how Webbtree can improve your recruiting efforts.

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