From brain teasers to emotional intelligence (EQ) questions, effective interviewing hinges on deploying different techniques to find the best possible hire for an opening. Let's dive into the ins and outs of interviewing to help you master your next one.
What is the interview process?
The interview process includes writing a job description, posting a job, scheduling and conducting interviews, following up with candidates, and hiring an employee.
Remember, interviewing is a skill. Just as a candidate might turn to friends or for a practice interview, internal practice interviews help teams identify areas for improvement.
Interview process steps
Conducting an effective interview begins with preparation. Members of the interviewing team should coordinate in advance to ensure that each person is asking unique questions to ascertain the candidate's skills, and consistently scoring candidates.
There is much debate by industry professionals on the best ways to improve the interview process. And by improve, we mean to attract and make better hires. Difficult job interviews actually result in better hires. Candidates who go through a rigorous interview process often find that the company places a high value on finding employees who are a good match for both the position and the company culture.
Here are some steps to consider when structuring your interview process.
The phone screener
Quickly vet a candidate before you invest further time in them. At this stage, you'll want to focus on high-level questions to make sure they meet the requirements of the role.
The test
Determine test objectives, (e.g. personality, values, skills, etc.), and decide how candidates will be moved forward or eliminated based on the results.
The in-person interview
The shift toward remote and hybrid work means that companies need to hone their virtual interview process. Focus on EQ questions, and use the proximity of the screen to gauge how a candidate reacts to the questions and distractions.
The virtual interview
This is the time to dig into culture fit and work style. Try to identify what motivates a candidate, what drew them to your company, and how they work on a team.
The group panel
Prepare interviewers with the job description and the candidate's resume. Don't forget to identify a panel leader, and assign roles to each interviewer based on job function and/or expertise.
The candidate presentation
Be specific with the candidate about the presentation topic, and determine objectives for evaluation with the team in advance. Don't forget to solicit feedback via a scorecard or a post-panel debrief.
While extra hoops raise the perceived difficulty of job interviews, they also slow down the hiring process. Before adding additional layers to interviews, make sure each new screen helps identify great candidates.
Great interview questions to ask candidates
Start the interview with a personal touch. Introduce yourself, and be sure to confirm that you're pronouncing the candidate's name correctly. Explain what you do for the company, and how you and the candidate would work together.
If you're struggling to come up with interview questions, try these to get a better sense of the candidate's personality:
- What was the best thing about your last job?
- Describe a time you had a difficult working relationship with a colleague. What was the challenge, how did you address the situation and what did you learn from the experience?
- What is a development area, a deficit, or a gap that you've had to overcome or improve in your career? How was that identified, and what did you do to improve?
- Tell me about two of the most satisfying accomplishments in your career.
Get started
Are top candidates ghosting you? Consider how you can improve your interview process to connect with interviewees and highlight your employer brand. For better or worse, a company's culture comes through in interviews. If your employees are unhappy, job candidates are going to pick up on that dissatisfaction.
In addition, how managers at your organization interview candidates matters and will show up in company reviews. Unlock your Free Employer Profile to join the conversation on Glassdoor and get started improving your interviews today with the Ultimate Guide to Conducting Interviews.
