Career Development Blog

When preparing for an Interview, consider the following:

1)      Prepare you specific questions ahead of time

a.       Base questions on the job at hand

b.      Look at job description

c.       Create a skills list for evaluation (performance skills, technical skills)

2)      Rapport Building

a.       Find something to talk to the candidate about before questions begin (talk about mutual interests, weather, travel.) 

b.      Building rapport helps calm down the nervous interviewee adjust to the setting and get comfortable talking on a personal level before discussing their job experience.

3)      Ask Open Ended Questions

a.       Questions should be tailored to the job position candidate is interviewing for.

b.      Be sure questions are specific so you get the type of answer you are looking for (instead of broad, rambling responses).

c.       Specific questions will get specific answers.

4)      Take Notes, Explain Why

a.       Write down important information you learn throughout the interview.

b.      Let candidate know why you are writing down information regarding his/her responses. 

c.       Allow the candidate to take notes if they wish.

5)      Allow Silence

a.       Listen to the candidate while he/she is speaking

b.      Be patient during a pause and wait for a response. (Usually a pause indicates the candidate is thinking.)

c.       Don’t break his/her train of thought.

6)      Maintain Control

a.       If the interview starts to veer off course, be sure to bring it back on track.

b.      If the candidate keeps talking about unrelated issues, just start asking questions again. Be sure questions are specific so you stay on track with the interview.

7)      Contrary Evidence

a.       Keep everything in balance.  Seek positives and negatives of candidate’s abilities.

b.      Find strengths and weaknesses of the candidate through examples of different situations he/she has been in.

8)      Evaluate

a.       After the interview, take time to look over all of the information you received from the candidate.

b.      Make the best choice for that job position, based on skills and performance (not just personality).

Adapted from “More Than a Gut Feeling II” Video - American Media Inc.