When it comes to hiring, you obviously want to find the right person for the right job. But there are five interviewing mistakes that could lead to the wrong person showing up on your payroll. Here’s what to avoid when conducting the all-important hiring interview.
- The “free-form” interview: You have a list of questions for your next potential employee, but before you realize what’s happened, the interview has been derailed and the candidate is directing the conversation. Don’t let applicants take control of the interview by steering you toward other topics. Prepare a list of questions in advance to get the information you need; not the information they want to give you.
- Asking routine questions: Chances are, the person you’re interviewing has been interviewed a lot lately. Not only can questions become standard, but answers to them can become rehearsed, giving applicants the chance to recite acceptable answers. Mix it up by asking not-so-predictable questions.
- Leaving out details: It’s understood that most jobs, even the great ones, come with some challenges. But don’t make the mistake of leaving these details out. Be honest and upfront about challenges past employees may have experienced. This will give new applicants a chance to show you in an interview setting how they would handle the same conflicts.
- Ignoring the right “fit”: Every company has a culture. Corporate cultures are as varied and diverse as the people who work within them. Depending on your company’s size, geographic location, industry and other factors, your business may need the right “fit” for a new employee to mesh well. Don’t overlook important details such as character, personality and background when interviewing.
- Giving too much weight to commonalities, not competence: While getting to know future prospects, there might be one shining detail that stands out in person. It could be that they graduated from your alma mater, grew up in your hometown or were a previous employee of your largest competitor. Even though other applicants may be better qualified, it’s easy to let this one detail outweigh other options and influence hiring decisions. Be careful to remain impartial until a decision has been made, and give fair consideration to all qualified prospects.
Remember that the people you interview are first and foremost job seekers, who are well-prepared to impress. To avoid expensive and time-consuming hiring mistakes, be sure that you are equally prepared for the interview process.