ARTICLES

Search:

Home | Business | Careers


Conducting a Successful Job Interview.

By: Ray James

Conducting a job interview is a most important responsibility for any manager or supervisor. Using their judgment and skill to choose the best person for the job, they ensure the future of the organization.

Conducting a job interview is not an easy task for first time interviewers. The main attribute needed to conduct a successful interview is self confidence. You must be seen to be approachable as this will have an effect on how the candidate performs. Potential employers, as well as the candidate, can quite often get nervous during a job interview. Be specific and make every effort to create a non-threatening atmosphere. Greet the candidate appropriately and give a firm hand shake. This will go a long way towards creating a friendly atmosphere and putting the candidate at ease.

When you are ready to start the interview, greet the candidate personally, shaking hands and thanking them for taking the time to visit your office for the interview. Making and maintaining good, appropriate eye contact is very important as it will assist in making the task easier. Then direct the candidate to a seat. This will assist in reducing any tension and will allow you to positively interact with the candidate throughout the session.

Knowing when it is the right time to ask certain kinds of questions plays a very important role while conducting a job interview. You should ask the questions in increasing order of importance. Begin with general questions such as personal questions, why they have applied for this position etc. At all times listen attentively to the candidate's answers. Take your own time and plan your questions well - a series of questions prepared in advance will be of assistance. After these initial general questions, take a minute's break and have an informal chat with the candidate. This will create an atmosphere that is welcoming and will ultimately obtain the best response from the candidate. The next level of questioning is concerned with questions that give you information about the level of skill, talent and expertise the candidate may have, so the questions must be framed so that they highlight these attributes. You should take observation notes, as these will be of benefit to you when making the final decision. Some examples of this level of questioning relate to what the candidate is searching for in a job, why they are the best person for the job, what the candidate do for the company that some one else cannot etc.

It is extremely difficult to choose between candidates for a position, especially when there are a number of equally qualified people. You must be prepared to judge and ask the appropriate questions to ensure that you obtain the right person for the job. It is quite appropriate to ask questions related to previous work experiences, how they have related to colleagues, management style, what the candidate is looking to achieve in a job, to ascertain whether the candidate is a team player.

Finish the interview with friendly gestures, thanking the candidate again and shaking hands. Allow yourself a few minutes before beginning another interview. A poorly managed interview will not be a success and if you make a wrong decision it could be potentially disastrous for the company.

Article Source: http://www.approvedarticles.com

Bookmark and Share

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Careers Articles Via RSS!

Powered by Article Dashboard