Something we often run into with our clients is that when the interview process with a rockstar candidate arrives, they don’t know where to start with their questions or demeanor in the interview. Thankfully, we've been through this hundreds of times! We always prepare our clients and candidates on the dos and don'ts of interviewing and wanted to help you out as well.
When you are preparing to conduct an interview, you have to recognize your role. Part of this includes knowing what questions to ask but most importantly knowing the questions you should not ask. As an interviewer, you should be aware of the types of questions that may be problematic as well as how to handle them in an interview. Here are some interview best practices and off-limits topics to keep in mind.
Who's Interviewing Who?
An important piece of an interview is letting the candidate determine if you are a good fit for you. Of course, you need to know who you are potentially hiring to determine if they are a good fit. For the candidate, they need to know if they'd feel at home, if your company matches their personality, and if the culture is a place they want to spend their time. By making sure your interviewee has time to ask you questions and vet your company, you are far more likely to retain them in the long run.
How Interviews Have Changed
With the shifting workforce to remote, interviews have also shifted to remote. Many candidates are now able to search, apply, and go through the interview process right from the comfort of their sweatpants. It is important to recognize this shift as well as prepare yourself for a remote interview.
What NOT To Do in an Interview
Don't Be Late
First impressions count. The candidates are interviewing you as an employer just as much as you are interviewing them. They are going to make every effort to show up on time, be presentable and make a great first impression, and so should you.
Don't Skip the Icebreakers
Skipping the icebreakers and jumping right into the interview questions is one of the worst ways to start off an interview. This is a great way to introduce your candidate to the culture of your company.
Don't Be Unprepared
The key to a great interview is being prepared. Not only will it allow for a smooth interview but it will show your candidate how professional you are. Be sure to look over any of their documents pre-interview. This will allow you to ask and gain further understanding of their previous work experience or achievements. It also shows the candidate that you care about, which demonstrates the culture of your company as well.
Do Not Ask List:
There are many topics to stay clear from during an interview. These types of questions can solicit information from job candidates that could be used to discriminate against them.
- Age
- Medical Information
- Height or Weight
- Race, Ethnicity, and Color
- Gender of Sex
- Citizenship
- Religion or Religious Beliefs
- Disability
- Marital, or family status, or pregnancy
What to DO in an Interview
Do Set Expectations
Be extremely straightforward about what would be expected of this candidate. Let them know what they would be working on, some examples of projects they would be completed, and what kind of hours they would be expected to work. Sugarcoating the position and its duties may lead to the potential for job dissatisfaction.
Do Have Fun With the Interview
While it is important to maintain professionalism, don’t make the interview a completely formal process. Bringing a new member into your team is exciting! You are lucky enough to be able to bring someone new in, so have fun with it, enjoy the process.
Do Allow Time for Questions
Remember to allow time for questions before, during, and after the meeting by setting aside at least 15 minutes specifically for this. That way you are sure to have enough time to answer any questions the candidate may have and if they don’t have any, then there is the opportunity to get to know them on a more conversational level.
Do Ask for Help If You Need It
The interview process doesn’t fall all on your shoulders! HubSearch will help all clients prepare for the interview process, including questions, activities, and more. We want to ensure that our clients and our candidates have the best possible experience in interviewing and will always be willing to help.
This blog has been updated for best practices, changes in the working world, and timely content and was originally published in October 2020.