How Are Your Interviewing Skills?

If you're a hiring manager, you're responsible for making the final decision on who will fill positions within your company. This is an extremely important task, since choosing the wrong people again and again wastes time, money and company resources. Minimize your chances of choosing the wrong person by becoming a better interviewer. The following four tips can help you streamline your interview process and build the best possible workforce.

1. Know Exactly What Your Company Needs

As a hiring manager, it's important to know exactly what your company requires and the precise skills each candidate should possess. Make this information clear in the job posting, and let potential applicants know they should not apply if they don't meet the job requirements. This strategy alone will greatly reduce your candidate pool, since it quickly eliminates applicants who cannot meet the company's needs. During the interview, discuss the job duties in detail, and ask the candidate to expand on skills and experiences that relate to the position. It's essential to have an in-depth conversation with the candidate to determine if he's the best fit, which is only possible if you know exactly what the department needs and what the position entails.

2. Gauge the Candidate's Passion

During the job interview, pay close attention to the candidate's demeanor and overall attitude. Is he highly motivated, passionate and eager to work for your company? Does he fully understand what his contribution will bring to the organization? Is he excited about the job opportunity and willing to go above and beyond the call of duty when necessary? Such candidates typically make great employees. Therefore, it's important for hiring managers to gauge each candidate's passion during an interview to determine if he truly wants to be part of the team.

3. Don't Make a Snap Judgment

Sometimes, candidates are fidgety, nervous or soft-spoken, and they might not be as friendly or charismatic as the hiring manager would like. That definitely doesn't mean the person can't be a great worker and asset to the company. Avoid making snap judgments based on personality traits or even appearance. Enhance your interviewing skills by digging beneath the surface to learn more about who the person is, how he thinks, how he behaves and what he has to offer your organization.

4. Inquire About Future Goals

Even if a candidate seems perfect for the position, he could still be a bad choice if he doesn't plan to stick around for too long. As a hiring manager, it's important to find out about the candidate's short-term and long-term goals. Questions such as "Where do you see yourself in five years?" or "What are your ultimate career goals?" can help you determine if the candidate plans to grow with your company. Let the candidate know if you're looking for someone long term, and don't hesitate to disqualify a great candidate who can't make a lengthy commitment to your organization.

Become a better interviewer by using these four tips to help you weed out unfit candidates and select the best possible person for each open position. Using these tips can also make the interview process more meaningful and efficient, which means busy hiring managers will waste less time and find qualified candidates more quickly.

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