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Every interviewer was once an interviewee—and it’s important to keep that in mind the next time a nervous candidate enters the room.
If you’re making your debut as an interviewer, you’re probably excited—and also a little relieved you’re not on the other side! But you might be a little nervous too about evaluating someone else’s goals and aspirations.
Doing a good job as an interviewer means both you and the candidate are satisfied at the end of the meeting. Discover more about interviewing skills and how you can improve as an interviewer.
The Art Of Interviewing
How would you define the art of interviewing? Perhaps it’s being fully aware of what the candidate is bringing to the organization, asking important questions and being highly observant.
You should approach an interview with empathy, compassion, curiosity, an open mind and preparation.
Here are some ideas to help you improve your interviewing skills:
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Prepare questions that are relevant to the candidate, based on their experience and the job requirements
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Think about the candidate as objectively as you can so as not to let your personal bias get in the way
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Read the candidate’s resume before the interview so you’re aware of what they have to offer
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Try to make the candidate feel relaxed and comfortable because they’ll likely be nervous
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Be well-versed with the job role if you want to ask questions that actually help you find the candidate who best matches what the job needs
The art of interviewing is something that takes skill, but it’s definitely something you can ace.
How To Improve Interviewing Skills
Whether you’re an HR manager or a department lead, improving your job interviewing skills will help you in your professional journey. It will improve your communication and interpersonal skills. Speaking clearly, in a way that’s understood by the candidate, is an effective interviewing skill.
Let’s explore some of the ways in which you can enhance your interviewing skills:
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Structure Your Interview
Instead of following a loosely-structured interview, try to go step-wise. Before starting with introductions, you can ask the candidate how they’re doing and whether they found the office okay to break the ice. If it’s a virtual interview, you can even ask them if they’re all set up and ready. You can then move on to their resume and other questions relevant to the interview.
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Speak Accurately And Clearly
One of the most important qualities for a professional is to speak in a way that’s clear, concise and accurate. When you’re communicating with the candidate, make sure your words are as clear as possible. This way the candidate won’t have to try to decode what you said. Frame your questions in a way that’s easy to understand. Rather than twisting your words, make it as simple as possible.
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Check Your Body Language
Nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication. The way you sit, move your hands and your facial expressions make a difference. The candidate is likely trying to read you just as much as you’re trying to read them. If you appear disinterested, they may become nervous about their answers, which can affect their confidence. Appear friendly and approachable to make the candidate feel comfortable in your company.
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Prepare Questions In Advance
An important aspect of job interviewing skills is to prepare your questions well in advance. You don’t want to come up with questions as you go as that would result in an unstructured, rambling interview. From “tell me about yourself” and “why us?” to more job-specific questions, you should have a few in mind to ask the candidate during the interview.
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Build Rapport With The Candidate
If you believe the candidate is a great fit for your organization, you should build rapport with them. For instance, if they mention something they like to do outside of work, you can ask further questions to keep the conversation flowing. It’s a good way to understand a candidate’s cultural fit, their values and beliefs.
Interviewing skills can be refined over time—all you need to do is be proactive in seeking opportunities to do more of it. If your team is hiring someone new—and if you’re in a position to—you can ask to interview candidates. After all, practice makes perfect.
Interview With Impact
An interviewer usually holds a lot of power—especially in the eyes of the candidate. You should be able to convey your expectations and what you need from them in a clear manner. Harappa’s Speaking Effectively course will teach you powerful frameworks to speak with impact. With an entire section dedicated to speaking virtually, you’ll pick up essential interviewing skills to navigate remote or video interviews as well. Become an ace interviewer by equipping yourself with the right tools.
Explore topics such as What are the Common Questions to Ask an Interviewer, Top Interview Skills, Tips for Interview & How to Prepare for Mock Interview from Harappa Diaries and crack your next interview.
