Internet is flooded with host of articles which guides the candidates
on how to get through an interview but there are very few articles for the
interviewer. As a certified Interviewer,
I thought of sharing my views in this article on how to get the best out of the
candidate during an interview process. The pointers listed below helps in
making the Jigsaw Puzzle called “Interview”
a seamless one for the candidate.
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| Courtesy : Slideshare.net |
Perfect Ambience:
Any candidate who walks in for the
interview comes with a jumbled mind. Ensure the ambience in the reception,
waiting hall and the interview room are good enough. This can be achieved by
maintaining the surroundings neat and clean. The colors of the room should be
pleasing to eyes. Good lighting should be made available. Furniture to be
uncluttered and it is preferred to have a couple of news papers or magazines in
the waiting hall. All of these set a right tone in the mind of the candidate
for the interview.
Warm Reception:
The candidate to be warmly welcomed either by the Receptionist or by the Talent
Management staff. Offer the candidate water or beverages, else direct them to
the pantry. Allow few minutes for them to settle down before handing over any
forms to take in their details. Give a briefing about the interview process.
This helps the candidate to get prepared mentally for the interview.
Do your home work: "These days even high school kids don’t skip home work, can Interviewer’s afford
to?" The profile of the candidate should be browsed through, before stepping
into the interview room. It is a wrong practice to stare at the profile of the
candidate while they talk. It is a signal of unpreparedness. A proper home work
will help the interviewer pick the key points. It will be easier to frame up
the questions for the interview
Respect Time:
Ensure that you be on time for the interview. Don’t pretend to be busy during
the time slot allotted. As matured professionals we need to better manage our
time before expecting the same from the candidate. A good interviewer is one
who knows to respect and value the time of the candidate. State your apologies
to the candidate, even if you are late by few minutes. Any unprecedented delays
foreseen ensure that it is duly informed to the candidate well in advance.
Making the candidate wait for long will only add up to their anxiety and it
creates “brain drain”.
Self introduction:
Greet the candidate and offer them a comfortable seat. Sit in a position
wherein you have a direct eye contact with the candidate. Exchange pleasantries
to initiate the conversation. "Don’t jump into your first question, as if there is no
tomorrow". Even before getting started make a self introduction. It is good to
say the name and the capacity at which you work for the company. Also give a
quick brief about the role for which the interview is being conducted. This
introduction not only helps the candidate to get familiarized with you but it
also provides the candidate to gather some breath and allow their heart beats
to calm down.
Eye contact: Throughout
the meeting ensure you share a good eye contact with the candidate. This helps
to gauge the candidate easily. Do not keep flipping through the resume papers
which resembles either you are unprepared or disinterested. Don’t be keen in
taking notes, “Remember, you are not
writing an exam”. Note making also distracts and you may lose on any
important point as the candidate speaks.
Last but not the
least:
“You are not Hitler out there to hire forces for WWII; a pleasing
face does the interviewee a world of good” – SMILE J J
J
!!!!!! ……
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