10 Steps to Becoming a Better Interviewer

Step #1: Never interview alone—Bring a partner to observe your interviews. They will be able to make observations about your performance as well as pick up things you didn’t notice about the applicant.

Step #2: Don’t wing it—Going into an interview unprepared will give you and your company a disadvantage when hiring top talent. If you don’t have the candidates resume handy or arrive late to the meeting, you risk giving the interviewee signs that this meeting is not important.

Step #3: Set expectations early—Let the interviewee know what you want to discuss, how long you will need and that they will have time for questions at the end. If you only have 30 minutes rather than an hour, let them know you are limited on time and that you have a lot of questions.

Step #4: Professional courtesy—Remember that this person has come to your office on their own time. If you aren’t interested in them for the role, finish the interview and tell them your concerns. Don’t resort to avoidance when candidates inquire about their status in the interview process. Communicate with applicants about their candidacy in your search process.

Step #5: First impressions matter—If there isn’t an initial connection with the applicant, odds are you will have a more challenging time working together over the long term. Developing rapport and building a solid foundation for the relationship starts with the first interview.

Step #6: Remember it’s a small world—Chances are you will be interviewing at some point in the near future. The person you interview today could be someone who interviews you tomorrow. They will remember you, your behavior and how you treat them during this process. Make sure you leave a positive impression.

Step #7: Perfection seeking—Sometimes when we interview we look for perfection and can be highly critical. This filtering is part of the selection process. Keep in mind that the great interviews don’t necessarily equate to great employees. Get to the core of what you need and know what skills you can help develop.

Step #8: Keep it 50/50—You should be talking about 50% of the time. If you are monopolizing the conversation, you will miss pertinent information. Both parties should have equal time to speak, ask questions and clarify points as necessary.

Step #9: Put your selling shoes on—Know what you have to offer future employees. The more you understand what you have to offer, the easier it will be to attract the right people.

Step #10: Prepare questions in advance—Come to the interview with a list of questions you intend to ask. This will allow you to focus on the applicants’ answers rather than what you are going to say next. Make note of specific questions you want to ask about career history, industry knowledge and relevant contacts.

Copyright © Optimal Sales Search. Optimal Sales Search recruits sales professionals at the mid, senior and executive levels for ambitious Technology and High-Value Service firms. Visit our website at www.OptimalSalesSearch.com for sales hiring tips, articles and checklists that can help you hire better sales talent, faster.