How to conduct the perfect job interview?
Ah, the infamous job interview... Rookie "recruiters" sometimes dread it more than the applicants themselves. Here are our tips to help you out.
Ah, the infamous job interview... Rookie "recruiters" sometimes dread it more than the applicants themselves. Here are our tips to help you out.
How to prepare for a job interview? That’s an easy question… If you’re the applicant. You’ll find advice everywhere on the internet. “Our tips for a successful job interview“, “The perfect answer to 10 common trick questions“, “How to prepare well and avoid stress“… it’s all out there.
But what about the person conducting the interview? A few tips would come in handy. Hiring is no easy feat and it’s better to come prepared. Here’s how we do it here at sunday. And it’s been working out for us so far.
Common sense first and foremost. Before you talk to a candidate, do some research. We don’t mean you should stalk them! You just need to know who you’re talking to. *
While you’re at it, write down any detail that catches your eye. They’ll make good questions to ask during the interview.
And the D day?
Whether it’s a pen and paper or just your keyboard, make sure you have what you need to take notes. Have a list of clear questions. That’s a must for a successful job interview. All good? Then you’re good to go. But first, check out these tips ⬇️
It’s almost your time to shine! Remember: the key is to arrive well prepared, while remaining fairly spontaneous.
What’s on the menu? A 5-minute presentation, 20 minutes to discuss and 5 minutes to ask questions? So make it clear from the start to get off to a good start.
Who are you? What do you do? And say a word or two about the company. That’s enough, there’s no need to ramble on. The whole thing should not take more than a few minutes. The trick is putting your best foot forward without saying too much. You should lead the discussion, not monopolize it.
They’re the star of the interview. But you should set the stage. Are you more interested in their theoretical knowledge than their background and values? Don’t be shy, say it and avoid digressions. You can always discuss the rest later.
Enough is enough? Interrupting a candidate who is rambling aimlessly would be doing them a favor. You’re giving them a chance to refocus on what matters.
Out of inspiration? Here’s what you can say without sounding too abrupt: “Sorry to interrupt you, I want to go back to [another point]. We don’t have a lot of time and I have a lot of questions for you.”
Not sure if you understood what they just told you? Ask for more details, get into the nitty-gritty so that you can tell if they mean business.
This is a must. A good candidate should have some interesting questions in store. About the job itself, the company or what’s next, there are plenty of possibilities.
The time has come to talk about next steps. A case study? A technical test? Another interview? Take advantage of the last few minutes to give the applicant some visibility.
Hold on, it’s not over yet. Now is the time to debrief and see if the candidate checks the right boxes, or not.
If the result is convincing, then you can set the rest of the recruitment process in motion.
This is the best way to avoid making a mistake. Their feedback will help you to validate, or not, this recruitment. It’s a must at sunday and we’ve heard no complaints so far… quite the opposite!
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