What Hiring Managers Should Ask in Job Interviews

Be prepared and relaxed during an interview.

Ever have a lousy job interview? It may not be you.

It very well could be the interviewer’s ignorance about how best to conduct a productive meeting, suggests human resources and staffing blogger Randy Levinson.

Levinson goes to great lengths in his post “I’m sorry; you’re just interviewing me wrong” to explain that the many theories and processes used in interviewing, including Behavioral; Stress; Active Listening; STAR (Situation Task Action Results); DMAIC (Design Measure Analyze Improve Control); and more. Each has its strengths; in the final analysis, it’s about finding the right fit for the job.

And for job seekers, understanding how an interview should go provides tactics for helping get the conversation back on track.

Here is a framework Levinson suggests interviewers use:

Step 1. Take the first few minutes to get to know the candidate and find some way to connect. This will put them more at ease and get you more honest and thoughtful responses.

Step 2. Discuss the opportunity (don’t run at the mouth or take too long to go over it since the candidate has presumably read the job description hence them finding their way to the chair across from you) and make sure the candidate has some understanding of what you are looking for. Then ask them to tell you how they might perform the job, what is their vision.

Step 3. As they talk about what they would do they’ll ask questions, be prepared to answer them, and don’t be cagey. When you give up a little info it goes a long way to build trust and that trust will enhance the interview process immensely.

Step 4. Use the dialogue to take you to places you feel the interview needs to go. Between the time the interview was scheduled and the time it takes place the candidate gives a lot of thought to what they want to say, make sure you help them get to the right place to share those thoughts.

Step 5. Follow up. Even as you jot down your notes on the interview (please jot down some notes!) take a moment to send a quick email while you have the resume in hand. A “thanks for coming in; it was a pleasure meeting you.” Also goes a really long way in making the candidate experience complete.

Being interviewed can be nerve racking for everyone involved. If it seems like your interviewer is struggling, keep these steps in your back pocket for reference, and use them to help ease the interview in your favor. Nothing says “positive interview” like excellent interpersonal skills.

For More on Job Interviews:

• Don’t Answer That Interview Question
• Acing a Job Interview After Age 50
• Body Language Speaks Volumes on a Job Interview

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