Conducting a Job Interview

Many of the posts on this blog are written from the viewpoint of the other side of the desk. However, I decided to mix it up a little and provide information from this side of the desk. This particular post is concerning conducting a job interview.

For many in our current economy getting a job interview is the most important thing on our schedules at the moment. Though, there are those in our audience that may find themselves on the other side of the desk and in a position where they are the interviewer. If this is a new position for you, this may be helpful in providing you with information on performing a professional job interview.

If you are an interviewee- take a read and find out what is going on in the minds of those that are asking those difficult questions and preparing to hire or dismiss you from the pool of candidates for a position.

There are legal guidelines that must be followed for every job interview. A lot of things are common sense. However, if you find you need to define what your legal position should be when conducting an interview, this information can be provided by the Federal Bureau of Labor or Civil Liberties Union found in every state.

Job interviews can be conducted for simple subcontracting jobs such as hiring a designer to create your website or blog to getting a new VP for your company. They are generally the same regardless of the position with a few tweaks to specialize them for the specific employment opportunity.

A job interview should be a private discussion. This can be conducted via the computer or in person. If you are providing an interview in a brick and mortar business, have a private room with a table so both parties can take notes or write down information.

Some interviewers will have a large table for candidates to select from several different seats they feel comfortable with and this provides a less intimidating and comfortable atmosphere. In addition, some interviewers can tell a lot about a person from one seat they select.

For example, do they sit across from you? This could symbolize they aren’t afraid and feel no intimidation. Do they select the seat farthest away? This could mean they are not comfortable with intimacy and people. However, don’t read too much into it. They may simply select the first seat they come across.

Prepare a formal list of questions for the interview. Most interviews are scheduled from a half hour to forty five minutes. This is generally enough time to determine if a candidate is qualified and to answer and ask questions. Prescreening of a resume or additional recommendations is already done and this is simply meeting the person on a more personal level for the position. Does the person match up to what you have already selected on the paper side of things? Will your personalities work well together or will they fit well in the position you are considering them for?

Some interviews may consist of several different people interviewing one person. Why? you may be reporting to several different people or they feel that the opinion of more than one person will weigh in their hiring practices. Don’t fret or become alarmed. In addition, to simply believe that you have the job since you had an interview with more than one person unless the interviewer tells you as much.

Don’t ask questions that can be answered with yes or no. Open ended questions that require detailed or discussion answers should be on your list of questions.

Avoid questions that are highly personal unless it is relevant to your decision making process. Remember, there are discrimination laws and you shouldn’t base your hiring process on whether or not the interviewee likes dogs better than cats.

If there are questions concerning the candidate’s physical ability to do a job, work with a medical professional to prescreen candidates and make certain they understand the physical details of the position?

Give the interviewee ample time to answer each question. Provide general information about the company, but specific information about the position and future plans.

Always conclude with advising them you will follow up and provide a business card if they have any questions. Email is a great way to follow up with applicants. Providing your email information for the company with your business card information is also a great way for the applicant to contact you.

These are general guidelines for conducting a job interview. They can provide you with information to conduct an interview as well as letting anyone that is expecting an interview know what to look forward to.

pic is courtesy of ehow.com