When you interview a candidate for a position within your company, you are inviting in a total stranger. This is why good interviewing techniques are important to save possible time and trouble later on. Good interviewing techniques do not have to be complex; in fact, some subtle observances and asking the right questions is all that you need for interviewing success.
Interview Techniques: Visual signs
These involve basic and obvious observances. For example, is the interviewee chewing gum; are they looking at you and maintaining eye contact; how are they sitting? These are the easy ones to spot and yet there are other signs that can give you insights into the interviewee’s personality. This would include nervous fidgeting, shallow breathing and so on. Obviously much of this will be down to nerves but you also have to watch out for these signs showing up when you ask questions that are more involved; it could be a sign that the interviewee is not that confident about their own reply.
Interview Techniques: Audible Signs
This would involve tone of voice and the speed of the speech. The writer has held a few interviews in his time and has dealt with the public on many occasions. The way someone talks shows whether they are interested in you or not and whether they are telling the truth or not. It is also interesting to observe if the interview is formulating his answer before you have even finished the question. This can often be the sign of someone not listening or thinking they know what is going on.
Interview Techniques: The Questions
Asking the right questions during any interview is vital for success. Even though you want the position filled, you need to ensure that the interviewee is the right candidate. You do not want to scare them off but you do want to highlight potential areas of stress within the job and then gauge their response. Honesty is important on both sides of the equation so that you get someone prepared and suitable. Asking questions that need more than a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Get the interviewee to open up to you with an extended response, which can only come from the right questions. This will come down to the interviewer knowing the position that needs to be filled. It is vital that you know the ins and outs of the job, even if that means doing the job yourself for a week to see exactly what is involved. If you do not know the job then you will never know what to ask.
The interview process is an open door between your company and a total stranger. Through skilful observance and probing question technique one will be able to weed out the unsuitable candidate and invite in a new member of the family.
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