7 tips for the best interview with candidates

Interviews with candidates can be difficult. You often only have an hour to discover who is sitting across from you. In normal life, you naturally take much longer to really get to know someone. This is why being well prepared for an interview and using the time that you have well is essential.

As an employer asking the right questions such as those in my blog “20 questions you should ask during an interview” is of great importance. Alongside this, I’ve learnt that it’s not only a matter what questions you ask but also how you act during the interview that is important. Therefore, here 7 tips to help your interview run optimally:

Tip #1 ”Connect” with the candidate

Naturally you want to ask as many questions as possible to determine whether or not he/she is the right fit for your company and the job. You should also ensure that you try to connect with the candidate by using their name, being friendly, showing sincere enthusiasm and where possible a little humor.

Tip #2 Maintain control of the interview

There are plenty of books and articles that can be found for candidates with information on how best practices for interviews. One of the tips in these books is to take control of the interview. If you notice this happening, there are several things you can do to regain control of the narrative and direction such as interrupting the candidate and steering them back to the original question that you asked.

Tip #3 Have at least 20% eye contact, no more than 50%

There is a myth that interviewers should maintain constant eye contact with the candidate. This is nonsense. A study by Bradford D smart shows that candidates often maintain less that 50% eye contact, that they don’t get the feeling that they are being continuously stared at.

Tip #4 Take notes, but not too conspicuously

During the conversation, take note of the points you find most important. Place your notebook in such a way that the candidate has difficulty focusing on it and can therefore continue to focus on the conversation. Please note that when you have negative things write down negative things about the candidate, such as a mistake they made, you mention this to them during the interview.

Tip #5 Keep the vacancy in mind, not on the tip of your tongue

The candidate clearly has qualities that align with the vacancy or they would not be sitting across from you. The chance is also high that they have qualities that aren’t a direct match.This doesn’t have to be a problem. By not trying everything to fit into the perfect picture, the candidate is free to use all available qualities and experiences.You may encounter unexpected opportunities together.

Tip #6 Give a summary of the conversation every 10 Minutes

Summarizing the conversation is a powerful tool that helps clarify things. Alongside this, it also shows that you have been listening well to everything that the candidate is saying. Giving a summary can also ensure that the candidate can add information that he or she may have missed earlier.

Tip #7 Ask for feedback

Always ask the candidate for feedback on how they experienced the conversation after the interview. Often, this gives the candidate some space to be open and it is always appreciated. Besides: it’s a learning experience for you too!

More tips for hiring or interviewing top candidates? Contact me.