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What do your interviews say about you?
Have you ever hit the candidate jackpot, a person with the perfect experience, personality and price, only to have them walk out of your office and into the arms of the competition? It’s a unique kind of headache, that one: your back on the starting blocks, while your rival is leap frogging ahead with your employee.
I see this all the time in my line of business and have seen plenty of reasons why. That said; 99% of them are solved with a quick review of your interview process to make sure it represents you and your ethos towards employees.
Here are four basic tips to help you along your way:
1. Have a plan and try to stick it.
Acting flustered and being lost for words is charming when you were sixteen and trying to survive your first date. Now that you’re a professional interviewing another professional for an integral business role, that type of behavior rings alarm bells and sends candidates running for the hills.
The solution: make a plan and stick to it. Know what you want before your interview. Articulate the position clearly. Describe your culture. Explain your expectations. Define the candidate’s future in your business.
2. Round two.
The best hirers in Brisbane have more than one interview. The reasons are A) it offers a second chance to vet the candidate B) it allows them to re-sell their company and their role c) it communicates that they are planned and considered so the person hired feels all the more special for being selected.
3. Keep it moving.
A slow recruitment process tells people one of two things: that you’re slow to do business, or the role is just not that important. So avoid these perceptions. Engage with potential employees and let them know you’re serious about the role. Keep your recruitment process moving.
4. Remember the No’s
If unsuccessful candidates walk away from your process with their heads held high it can only be good for business. Because you may not have hired them today, but you met them for a reason and you never know what opportunities you’ll have tomorrow.
Good people work for good organisations. Treat your interview process seriously and you‘ll have you’re your pick when it comes to attracting the best people in the business!
Happy Recruiting
EC
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Interviewing for a job doesn’t have to be stressful. At the end of the day, a job interview is simply a meeting between two people to see if they can work together successfully. I realise that there is a little more to interviewing but when we really think about it, this is the true essence of a job interview. Recently, I’ve been speaking to a lot of people about interviewing strategies and techniques, and have come up with a few simple tips to help make interviewing stress free.
- Where’s your head at?
- Research
- The Interview
- Follow Up
At its core a job interview is a meeting between two parties to see if there is potential for a working relationship – both technically and culturally. Over time, our view of interviews has changed and it’s not uncommon for people looking for work to treat a job interview like a ‘dog and pony show’. To confidently attack a job interview, remember both sides have to walk away confident that the they share common ground which will be the foundation of a working relationship. You are interviewing the organisation as much as the organisation is interviewing you.
Research is the most important facet of interview preparation. How do you know if the company aligns with your views and the role is what you want to do if you don’t research? By understanding the organisation and the role, you’ll understand what you are getting into and whether its a fit for you. The Internet will help you get an idea of what the organisation’s customers think of them. Additionally, sites such as Linkedin and Twitter will give you an insight of staff turnover, staff reviews, etc. (As a side note, I was recently told of a site where ex staff of a particular company shared their not so pleasant experiences – clearly a red flag). If your interview has been organised by a recruiter, I’d suggest you do additional research to compliment what they’ve told you. Whilst it’s in their best interests to have you as well prepared as possible, sometimes you can access more obscure information through other sources.
Some of these are obvious, some aren’t. Before the interview, have a check list and ensure it’s all ticked.
Know where you are going – Use Google Maps to know how to get to the interview, how long it will take to get there, and if you are using public transport what buses, trains, etc to catch. Try to get to the meeting 10 mins early and factor in any variables such as peak hour traffic, detours, etc.
Know who you are meeting – With LinkedIn and Google searches, there is no excuse to not know a bit of background about the company and the interviewer. The interviewer may have gone to the same school as you; they may come from a similar part of the world, or have worked for an organisation you are familiar with. You won’t know if you don’t research.
Dress to Impress – I always tell candidates it’s better to dress up for an interview and dress down on your first day than to dress down for an interview and not get a first day. Dress professionally – suit or at very least business shirt and tie for men and professional attire for women – and be prepared with mints or handkerchief should you require them. Also, turn your phone off or on silent (NOT VIBRATE as it will distract you) and ensure you finish any drinks or food before you get in the interview.
Ask Questions – You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. If after your research and the interview you still have outstanding questions – ask them. This shows the interviewer you are serious about the role and you’re doing your own due diligence. It’s part of the process and is expected.
If you want the job and you feel you can add value to the company, don’t be afraid to say it. Follow up by sending an email thanking the interviewer for their time and reinforcing why you are right for the role and how you can add value. If your interview was organised by a recruitment agency, send you email either via the recruiter.
Following these tips will not only put you in good stead for the interview, but it will help you formulate in your own mind whether this role you have applied for is right for you. If you have any other pointers or tips, please feel free to let know know.
Happy Job Hunting
EC
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