Everyone
agrees no business is better than its employees. So if hiring the right people
is so important... why are most interviewers satisfied with being mediocre
interviewers?
Maybe
they assume the burden of greatness lies solely with the employee. (“Hey,
it’s his job
to impress me.”)
But that's short-sighted and, well, stupid.
To
find the best employees you possibly can, you must
be the best interviewer you possibly can. Here are the key qualities of skilled
interviewers:
1.
They understand their real needs.
A
great employee doesn't just fill a slot on the org chart. A great
employee solves at least one critical
business need.
So
while credentials, qualifications, and experience are important, never forget
you’re not hiring a position: You’re hiring a result. You
don’t need a Sales Director; you need someone who will sell. You don’t need a VP
of Operations; you need someone who can produce on
time.
Identify
your real business need… determine what successfully meeting that need looks
like, because that defines the skills and attributes you’re looking for… think
about cultural fit… and tailor the interview (and everything else in your hiring
process) to finding the perfect person to solve your critical business
need.
Otherwise
you’re just wasting your time.
2.
They ensure candidates can come prepared.
All
candidates should know exactly what to expect: When, where, who will be
conducting the interview(s)... they should know everything.
Great interviewers ensure candidates don’t have to deal with surprises, tricks,
or uncertainty.
For
example, take the surprise group interview. A group interview can be
intimidating for the candidate, especially when it's unexpected. If the position
requires working predominately within a team group interviews can provide a feel
for the candidate's suitability. In that case, tell candidates ahead of time so
they can prepare. Otherwise hold individual sessions.
But
no matter what, let the candidate know who will be conducting the
interview(s.)
And
never forget that a new employee’s first day isn’t their first official day;
their first day is the day they first engage in your hiring process because
that's when their experience with your company really starts.
Make
the experience awesome from the start.
3.
They do more research on the candidate than the candidate does on the
company.
Every
interview guide tells candidates it’s important to research the company. So
isn’t it just as important for the interviewer to research the
candidate?
Of
course, especially since you can’t ask intelligent questions and foster a
compelling conversation unless you really know the candidate.
Start
with the resume. Focus not just on jobs and qualifications but also on what the
resume indicates about the candidate’s interests and goals.
For
example, look at her first job: What did she accomplish? What projects did she
work on? When did she change roles? When did she get promoted? What do changes
in responsibilities and duties indicate about her performance?
Then
move to the next job: Why did she leave her previous job? What does that say
about her career path? What does that say about her interests? Your goal is to
read between the lines to get a sense of the candidate’s successes, failures,
and long-term interests.
Then
do a quick survey of social media. What are her interests? What does she like to
do outside of work? What can that indicate about how she will fit in your
company’s culture? And whom does she network with? What does that say about her
broader goals and professional interests?
The
key is to know as much as you possibly can ahead of time, both for reasons of
“due diligence” and because…
4.
They make the interview a conversation, not an examination.
The
best interviews are a great conversation, not an interrogation. But you can't
have a great conversation with someone you hardly know.
The
more you know about the candidate ahead of time, the more you can ask questions
that give the candidate room for introspection and self-analysis.
5.
They bring shy or nervous candidates out of their shells.
Some
otherwise great candidates just don’t interview well. They're shy or nervous and
don't make a great first impression.
But
an awkward interview doesn’t mean a candidate can't excel at the job: While some
positions do require the ability to instantly establish rapport (like sales), in
many others a lack of conversational skills in no way signals a lack of
expertise.
It’s
easy to help a nervous candidate relax – especially if you’ve done your
homework. Compliment a few of his accomplishments. Ask a question about a hobby
or outside interest. Ask a few softball questions you know he can hit out of the
park. Take a few minutes to help him gain confidence and settle in.
Average
interviewers feel it’s the candidate’s responsibility to be “on.” Skilled
interviewers feel it’s their responsibility
to get the best from every candidate – even those who at first might seem
totally out of their depth.
6.
They wisely go off script.
An
interviewer should follow a plan and ask a reasonably specific set of questions,
but the best questions are almost always follow-up questions. Follow-up
questions take you past the canned responses and into the details, both positive
and negative.
Listen
to the initial answer, pause, and ask how. Or why. Or when. Or who actually did
what. Or what made a success difficult to achieve. Or what was learned from a
failure. Or what made a job hard or a project difficult. Or what made a task
fun. Or what the candidate would do differently, and why.
When
something sparks your interest, talk about it. Ask questions. Who knows where
the conversation will go.
Not
only will you get past the canned responses, you’ll also learn details—positive
and negative—the candidate never planned or would have thought to share. The
real superstars show up in the details, and it’s a skilled interviewer’s job to
get those details.
And
occasionally you’ll find a candidate who may not be right for this one… but
might be perfect for a different opening.
7.
They never take over.
Interviews
often turn into monologues delivered, unfortunately, by the
interviewer.
Most
candidates won’t interrupt or try to restore balance to the interview; after
all, they want you to like them. Unfortunately that means your hiring decision
is largely based on whether the candidate was a good listener.
You
learn nothing about the candidate when you’re the one talking. That’s why
skilled interviewers make the conversation 90% candidate, 10% interviewer – or
even less.
8.
They thoroughly describe the next steps.
Few
things are worse than being a candidate who has no idea what, when, or if
something happens next.
Don't
make the candidate ask about the next steps. Explain the rest of the process.
Explain what you will do, and when you plan to do it.
And
then actually do it.
9.
They never fall into the “checklist trap.”
Conduct
enough interviews and it’s natural to start ticking off mental boxes during the
interview.
“Let’s
see,” you think. “Experience: good. Qualifications: good. Skills: good.
Attitude: good. Work ethic: good. Cultural fit: good…”
Everything
is “good”… which unfortunately means you without realizing it can easily start
to think a candidate with no negatives is an awesome candidate.
Skilled
interviewers are unreasonably selective about the people they hire. They don’t
want to hire the candidate whose qualifications and interview fails to raise any
issues or concerns. They want to hire the candidate who will excel in meeting
their real business need.
An
absence of negatives is never a superlative. Demand excellence. Look for
superlatives. Skilled interviewers never get lazy and settle for average. Don’t
settle for good enough – because good enough rarely is.
10.
They provide closure to every candidate.
Failing
to follow up is rude and unprofessional. Think about it: Candidates paid your
business a massive compliment by wanting to work with you. (Why is that a
massive compliment? They’re wiling to spend more time with you than they do with
their family.)
Plus,
when you don’t provide closure, candidates won't complain to you…
but they will complain about you.
Describe
next steps, follow through on those steps, contact candidates when the process
for some reason gets delayed, and eventually provide closure to every candidate
– period.
Not
only is that good business, it’s the right thing to do.
