One of the most important functions of a manager is to recruit good people into her department. We have lots of material on effective recruiting, but the interview process is so critical to a positive outcome, that we thought we’d focus specifically on that this week. Often managers are thrown into interviews without much training or support, or perhaps their training happened a long time ago. In either case, join us this week, as we discuss how to conduct an effective job interview.
Monday’s Tip: Take the time to do interviews well. Getting the right people on board is likely your most important function as a manager. Good interviews take time to prepare for and follow up after. Make sure you allocate the appropriate amount of time.
Tuesday’s Tip: Have a process for the interview and follow it. You can’t improvise your way through an interview. Understand the process in advance, and stick to it once you’ve begun interviewing.
Wednesday’s Tip: Know what questions can get you into trouble. Employment laws vary by jurisdiction, so make sure you know what you can legally ask, and what you can’t.
Thursday’s Tip: Know what you’re interviewing for. Unfortunately, you can’t just hire the person you like the most. Know what competencies, experience and attitudes would best match the vacancy you are trying to fill.
Friday’s Tip: Have an objective scoring system. There is nothing wrong with using your intuition in the interviewing process, but if it is the only tool you use, you won’t be successful.