Eight Classic Mistakes Interviewers Make Infographic

Interview with a Vampire. Here are eight classic mistakes people make when interviewing job candidates, and advice on how best to avoid them. One. Not being prepared. What to do. Review the job spec and the candidates’ applications thoroughly in advance. Prepare set questions plus specific questions for individual candidates. If more than one interviewer, decide beforehand who will do what Two. Failing to put candidates at their ease. Think conversation not interrogation. Help the candidate to relax by starting with some small talk and offering them a drink. Then move on to the form the interview will take. Three. Talking too much. Top Tip. Use the eighty twenty rule. As the interviewer, aim to talk for around twenty percent of the time. The interviewee should talk for eighty percent. [1] use active listening to encourage interviewees to open up. Allow for pauses in conversation to give candidates time to think. Four. Displaying negative body language. Create the right impression with your candidates by, maintaining regular eye contact, without staring. Smiling and nodding to show you’re listening. Five. Letting bias creep in. Everyone has biases, whether it’s being blinded by first impressions, the Halo Effect, or wanting to hire people like ourselves. Stop and think. What skills and attitudes are really important for the job role. Can this candidate bring something different extra to the team. What does their interview performance say about their ability to do the job. Six. Not asking sufficiently probing questions. Top tips. Use open rather than closed questions, e.g. How do you keep focused at work, rather than Do you find it easy to stay focused. Ask follow-up questions like ‘Could you expand on that to elicit further information. Use behavioral questions, e.g. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team to judge past behavior and performance. Seven. Asking inappropriate questions. Potential grounds for discrimination include questions about, marital status, age, family, religion, health. Not sure about the legalities. Speak to HR for advice and support. Eight. Not getting back to candidates. Once you have decided who to appoint, let all candidates know as quickly and courteously as possible.

[1] ‘How to Interview Job Candidates Ask the Right Questions’. Available at http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/small-business/conducting-an-interview/interviewing-job-candidates.aspx (accessed 8 September 2014 ).

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