Employer tips for interviews

[TheoPetro]

I have seen a few posts regarding interviews from the interviewee's POV but what about the interviewer?

Other than just doing what is legal is there anything the interviewer can do to insure the interview goes smoothly, and successfully?

(a successful interview is one where you find out truthful/useful information about the candidate)

Is there anything that interviewers do that really bugs you and makes you not want to work for them?

 

[Rage187]

I always interviewed people in a room with windows and made sure that they were facing them.

If they looked out the window constantly I knew they wouldn't be focused on the job.

 

[yowolabi]

I had one interview with my potential manager and the guy didn't hear much of what I said. He just kept flipping through my resume and then asking me questions that I just answered completely 30 seconds before. It was the first time that I really thought came away from an interview thinking I didn't want the job anymore. I think a competent interviewer should look over the resume and have some questions prepared before the interviewee actually arrives. If you expect the person you're interviewing to be professional and prepared, you should do the same.

 

[Lola]

Don't ask typical cheesy questions like "tell me about yourself" and "what are your strengths and weaknesses".

If you want specific things answered, ask specific questions.

That is all i can think of now.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Don't ask typical cheesy questions like "tell me about yourself" and "what are your strengths and weaknesses".

If you want specific things answered, ask specific questions.

That is all i can think of now.

Hate those questions. So canned and scripted. Even worse are questions read off a real script/paper. Had an interview recently where they just asked 4 questions. No feedback whatsoever, just read the question, then they took notes of what I wrote. Not even any eye contact from THEM. In retrospect, I should have told them to eff off and walked away. Guess it's par for the course for the 'mass applicant' jobs I applied to...

 

[kranky]

I ask open-ended questions that aren't what people expect to hear. I hate interviewing someone who is obviously giving carefully rehearsed replies. Sometimes they are so determined to say "the right thing" they aren't even answering the question I asked. I tend to ask a number of follow-up questions to make sure I'm getting past the canned answers.

Example:
Q: Could you talk about a couple of the projects you have done working with a team?
A: We did a X and a Y at ABC company.
Q: Which project did you like better?
A: I liked X because the results were more successful.
Q: That's logical. Did the X project have a more talented team?
A: Well, I think the Y team was better actually.

So now I can ask
- What made X turn out better?
- How did the X team achieve better results with a worse team than Y?
- What kept the Y team from having good results?

Any of which will get past canned, prepared responses. I'm not as interested in the actual wording of the response as I am to see if the candidate can express a logical, thoughful opinion.

I also like to pause after a short answer to encourage the candidate to elaborate.

And I make a point to go over the negative aspects of the job as well as the positive ones. I want to make sure if people say they want the job, they are getting the job they expected. Example: "This position may require up to 25% travel and the work can be outside in all kinds of weather - cold, wet, hot, windy, whatever. You may not need to travel for a long time but if the need arises, you'll have to be able to go on short notice for a week at a time."

All I really want is for people to be honest in the interview. Don't pretend to be someone you're not because if you get hired, it's going to be obvious, and I'm going to be very unhappy. Be yourself so if you do get the job, the employer is getting the person they thought they interviewed.

 

[sdifox]

I always ask questions that don't necessarily directly impact the job, I just want to see the reaction of the candidate.
When interviewing for a job, find out about the place you are applying to. When the ad says you need to know certain things, you better make sure you can show it on the spot.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Don't ask typical cheesy questions like "tell me about yourself" and "what are your strengths and weaknesses".

If you want specific things answered, ask specific questions.

That is all i can think of now.

Hate those questions. So canned and scripted. Even worse are questions read off a real script/paper. Had an interview recently where they just asked 4 questions. No feedback whatsoever, just read the question, then they took notes of what I wrote. Not even any eye contact from THEM. In retrospect, I should have told them to eff off and walked away. Guess it's par for the course for the 'mass applicant' jobs I applied to...

Trust me, people doing the interview don't like reading off the sheet either. It's called HR standards. You have to follow that script, write down the responses and then evaluate based on that. Otherwise you can open the company up to lawsuits...

 

[Regs]

All HR really does it recruit. The hiring manager has ultimate say. If you all ready been picked to come into an interview then HR has all ready done its part. After that all HR does is play with numbers and stats.