Top 5 Interviewing Tips for Employers

Often managers and other employers are thrown into the role of leading an interview with little to no prior training or experience. This is a risky strategy. Hiring the right individual for the correct position at the right time is an essential part of operating a business.

There is a lot of value in finding the right talent for a role. The cost of a turnover is often a year’s salary when you factor in recruiting costs, training and supplemental onboarding expenses. That is why it is important that you hire the right person and have the person conducting interviews adequately trained.

Follow these tips to ensure your next interviewing process goes smoothly and saves you time and money.

Create a consistent interviewing process for every candidate

You want to hire the best possible fit for your company. To do this every candidate will need to be measured in the same manner. There are standard questions that every interviewee should be asked. These questions should align with your company’s core beliefs and values while highlighting the candidate’s work ethic and problem-solving skills. Having a formally-outlined interview process is essential to maintain consistency.

Understand your legal limitations when conducting an interview

Every country has different legislation regarding laws that may impact the outcome of pre-employment. Many human rights codes prohibit specific questions from being asked in interviews, especially if they are irrelevant to the job. Laws aren’t just applicable to the interview itself. Every employee in the hiring process should be aware of the legal details involved in the hiring process.

Know the necessary KSAs for the position you’re advertising

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) should be outlined for the role you’re trying to fill. This information should be written in the job description, and your recruiting efforts should highlight the KSAs required for the job. Knowledge refers to the type of experience needed to perform a job. Skills are hard or soft attributes such as working with specific software or speaking a particular language. Abilities are observable behaviors such as having the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Conduct a panel interview

Panel interviews have increased in popularity recently. They consist of a group of two or more employees conducting the interview. They speak with every candidate and share their views with their fellow interviewers. Research has shown that group decisions are more effective than individual choices. They prevent personal biases from taking control of the interview outcome, and you’ll get different perspectives amongst those who conducted the interview.

Communicate the next steps

Depending on the outcome of the initial interview, be as specific as possible with the candidate. Tell him or her what the next steps will be. One common pitfall of the hiring process is the lack of transparency regarding the next steps. How long will the candidate have to wait to hear back from you? Make sure that you are as clear as possible with your candidates. If you give off the wrong impression and poorly communicate, it can present a poor image for your company.

Interviewing is both a science and a form of art. There are proven methods that have demonstrated success. Make sure that you put the right person in charge of the pre-employment process.

Masterson Staffing Solutions will not only help you find the best person to fill a current job opening; we will also find the highest quality candidates for all of your future positions. You can contact us online, by phone or by stopping by one of our many office locations.