It's Not Just the Job Seeker Who Has to Prepare for an Interview

The burden of interview preparation usually falls on the candidate, but if employers don't do their due diligence before an interview as well, they're missing out. A well-prepared interview helps you find talent quickly and efficiently, maximizing your recruiting efforts. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for an interview and choose the best candidates.

Compile a List of Questions That Matter

Making a list of traditional interview questions such as "What is your biggest strength?" may be a quick and easy way to complete your interview preparation, but these questions don't tell you a lot about the candidate's abilities. Instead, create questions that are job-specific. For example, you might form hypothetical problems that a worker might face on the job. Ask interviewees to explain how they'd deal with these situations. This both helps the candidate understand what the position might entail while helping you imagine how that candidate would carry out his duties on the job.

Study the Candidate's' Job Application

A job interview gives hiring managers an opportunity to expand upon the information provided in the candidate's application materials. If you don't study the candidate's resume, cover letter and application ahead of time, you're doing yourself a disservice and might not be adequately prepared for the job interview. Spend time looking over the candidate's documents, and prepare multiple questions that are directly related to the information in these documents.

Convincing Candidates to Choose Your Company

During a job interview, you have the chance to "sell" your business to sought-after candidates. While you're taking the time to gauge whether they are the right fit, they are doing the same. Take a few moments during your interview preparation to list the factors that set your company apart from the competition. You should also think about perks and benefits your company offers as well as opportunities for career advancement that the job seeker can anticipate.

Create a Follow-Up Process

Having a solid post-interview process is an important part of interview preparation. For example, if you still have candidates to interview, you might tell job seekers that they can expect to hear back from you in one week. This gives you time to complete interviews and make a sound decision, and candidates aren't left waiting for an answer indefinitely. If you receive a thank-you note from a candidate, consider sending a reply regardless of your decision. This shows good etiquette and professionalism while letting job seekers know you respect their efforts.

These simple interview preparation tips can help you streamline your interview process so you can find talent and help your company grow. Do you have any other ideas to help recruiters maximize their interview preparation? Share them in the comments.

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