What is an interview technique?
An interview technique is a method for hosting a good interview. By using effective interview techniques, you can learn relevant information about candidates to make a hiring decision. After marketing a job opening and assessing resumes and cover letters, you can hold interviews to meet top candidates in person. Talking face to face can reveal their communication, social, and interpersonal skills. Sometimes, you can use testing interviews to evaluate the technical abilities of potential new hires. You can also get to know their personal characteristics, senses of humour, and personal hobbies.
7 Techniques for your interview
Preparing for your interviews in advance can help you approach them with confidence and expertise. Here are seven techniques to conduct an effective interview:
1. Plan your questions in advance
Proper planning, thought, and effort are crucial to conducting a good interview and conveying professionalism. Draft an outline of your interview structure in advance, including your introduction statement, the questions you ask and your plan for ending the interview. Writing your plan on paper or typing it out can help you remember everything you want to say. You can also use these notes in the interview to keep track of what you’re supposed to say next.
2. Watch other interviews
A great way to learn about how to interview is to watch other interviewers at work. Consider researching online to find videos of job interviews and discover about the kinds of questions and topics other employers discuss. You could even watch online celebrity interviews to learn methods for keeping a conversation casual and enjoyable. For example, humour is a great way to reduce stress for both you and the candidate and foster a welcoming tone. However, it’s important you balance humour and friendliness with professionalism.
3. Practise with a mock interview
While mock interviews are often methods for job candidates to practise for their interviews, they can also be helpful preparation techniques for employers or hiring managers. Consider asking a family member, friend, or trusted colleague to help you practise your interview plan. The person you practise with can suggest any improvements you could make in your tone, content, presentation, or style.
4. Stay organized
Organization is key to conducting an effective interview, and especially important if you are interviewing multiple candidates. Before each interview, make sure you have thoroughly read and assessed the candidate’s application package, including their resume and cover letter. Keep their documents with you so you can reference them in the interview as needed. For example, you may want to ask your candidate a question about a skill they’ve listed on their resume.
Organizing the profile of each candidate can ensure you remember their name and details. You can also keep track of the different questions you want to ask different candidates about their professional experience. Organization shows your professionalism and management skills, which can encourage candidates to remain interested in working for you.
5. Be positive
Many job candidates seek employers who are positive, conversational, and friendly. Showing these qualities in your interview can inspire skilled candidates to want the job. You can also look for these characteristics in your candidate to measure their interpersonal skills.
6. Explain the interview process and your timeline for your decision
As most candidates interviewing for a job are nervous, it’s very helpful if you explain the interview process to them. This could mean introducing yourself and describing how you’re going to ask them some questions to get to know them. At the end of the interview, be sure to tell your candidate your timeline for making a decision. You might say you plan to email them in about two weeks’ time with your hiring decision.
7. Follow up with your candidates
Following up with your candidates, even if they didn’t get the job, is professional and polite. Candidates who got past the initial screenings and into the interview stage may feel a lot of hope for getting the job, so it’s important to reach out to them to tell them your decision.
Example rejection email
Here’s what your email might look like if a candidate didn’t receive the job:
“Good afternoon, Anna.
Thank you for your application submission. After reviewing the applications, we have decided to hire a different candidate. I appreciate your time and getting to know you a bit, and wish you every success with your future.
Sincerely,
Mohammed Ashour”
Example job offer email
While employers often convey job offers over the phone, here’s an example of an acceptance or job offer email:
“Hi Kevin,
Our team reviewed your application submission, and we’d love to offer you the job! I would be happy to answer any questions you have. Please contact me at your earliest convenience with your thoughts.
Best,
Madeline Kraus”
