Did Your Interview Style Make That Perfect Candidate Run?

Interviewers are accustomed to having the upper hand, making it easy to forget they should be wooing top job candidates. Sought-after job seekers always have other options, and they move on to better prospects when an underwhelming company has little to offer. If you find it challenging to recruit — and keep — good job candidates, try polishing up your interview skills to eliminate red flags that are scaring off job seekers.

You Waste Time

Most companies prefer job candidates who are currently employed, which means the typical job seeker has to take time away from work to meet with you. Showing up late, rambling about unrelated topics or making interviewees wait while you take calls are signs that you don't value other people's time. Whether accurate or not, an interviewer's behavior represents the entire company. Job seekers don't want to ruin their candidacy by rushing you when interviews run overtime, but they may decide putting up with a haphazard hiring process isn't worthwhile in the long run.

You Appear Unprepared

After studying up on the company and practicing for every interview scenario, job candidates are offended when hiring managers fail to show an equal level of preparedness. If you don't know an interviewee's name or you spend time too much time asking about basic background information, it's immediately obvious that you didn't read the candidate's resume. Job seekers want to know why an employer initially viewed them as a good fit for the job, and being unprepared sends the message that you aren't invested in bringing them on board.

You Don't Sell the Job

Interviewers should never assume the best job candidates will accept the position if asked. Talented job seekers want fulfilling work, and they are turned off by interviewers who don't understand the position well enough to answer their questions. Keep in mind, job seekers use the interview to determine whether the company offers a compelling opportunity. They have no incentive to take their chances with an employer who can't provide a clear picture of the job duties or benefits.

You Behave Like an Interrogator

Interviews should be a two-way street, with both parties aiming to impress the other. As a result, you need to be friendly and communicative to put job candidates at ease and draw out the right information. Sitting stony-faced while firing off aggressive questions is an easy way to repel great job candidates, especially if you move between topics too quickly for job seekers to elaborate on their experience. Whether intentional or not, an overly intimidating interview style may convince job seekers that working for you could be a nightmare.

You Don't Show Enough Interest

Job seekers are used to dealing with indifferent recruiters and never hearing back from hiring managers who seemed encouraging during the interview. That's why candidates expect a higher level of enthusiasm from interviewers who are genuinely interested in them. If you don't show any signs that the interview went well or don't discuss follow-up steps, most job candidates assume you don't want them and pursue other offers.

Poor interview skills can drive away perfect job candidates and drag out the hiring process. If you're new to hiring, get feedback from HR staff to make sure you aren't sending out "stay away" vibes.

Photo courtesy of Gavin Davis at Flickr.com