Mastering the Interview - A Guide for Hiring Managers
Here at WomensJobList we like to provide advice for the employer as well as the candidate. While the following tips are directed toward the hiring manager, the list of interview questions are good ones to brush up on before your next interview.
The interview process is typically stressful for everyone and not at the top of our favorite things to do whether we’re the applicant or the hiring manager. While the applicant has the stress of needing or wanting the job, the hiring manager’s stress can be as intense. It’s a time consuming process, but shortcuts can cost you time and the company money.
The goal of the interview is to obtain as much information as possible about the candidate and to get a feel for the candidate’s temperament, ability to perform under pressure, personality, and how they interact with others.
The best way to get the candidate to open up is to do everything you can to make them comfortable and to feel that you’re on “their side” and not judging them personally. It helps to offer them a beverage, make introductions and to ask if they are comfortable. Smile and be conversational in your questioning as this again will encourage them to open up to you.
Never ask discriminating questions such as:
You don’t look like you’re from around here – where are you from?
How many children do you have?
Are you married?
Do you go to church on Sundays?
After making the appropriate introductions, tell the candidate a little about the company history and how this position fits in with the company.
Start the questioning with:
Tell us about your work history
Ask about their responsibilities at each position.
Ask the reason for leaving each position Inquire about any gaps in employment history
Continue with a selection of the following:
What experiences have you had that prepare you for our position?
What do you see as your greatest strengths? What would your last supervisor say is your biggest weakness?
How do you like to learn new things?
We all make mistakes, how do you handle it when you make one?
If someone has wronged you in some way, how do you deal with the situation?
If something goes wrong with your job, how do you tell your supervisor?
Can you tell me about a situation where you had to share bad news with someone?
How did you handle it?
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make good on a commitment you wish you hadn’t made?
What do you wish they had taught you in school that they didn’t?
What is your approach to solving a problem?
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Describe the best boss you ever worked for. Now describe the worst boss you ever worked for. What motivates you?
What frustrates you?
Can you give me an example of when a customer or co-worker got mad at you and how you handled it?
What is your preferred work environment (team vs individual) What is your perfect job?
How do you think co-workers would describe you?
Describe your most meaningful work experience. Why do you feel you’re qualified for this position?
Do you have supervisory experience?
Why do you want this job?
How do you handle conflict?
Is there a time when you went above and beyond in a position?
Tell me about it. How would you go about establishing your credibility and making contributions as a new employee?
What is your proudest achievement?
Who has made the biggest impact on your life and why?
What type of personality do you work best with and why?
What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
How would your friend’s describe you?
List five words that describe your character.
What are your hobbies?
What are your co-worker pet peeves?
How do you handle a co-worker that annoys you?
What is the most important thing for you when evaluating a company to work for?
Ask about specific qualifications for the position such as if they have worked with specific software, can operate certain equipment, machinery, etc. Do you have any questions?
After answering their questions, let them know the schedule and notification process of when a decision will be made on the position.
If you think this is a good candidate, you can take him /her on a tour of the areas where they will be working. It’s always a good idea to have them demonstrate their knowledge whether it is doing a quick flyer on the computer to showcase their talent in creative software such as Photoshop or asking them to grade a few pieces of lumber if that’s the job they’re applying for. It goes back to the days of taking a typing test if you were applying to be a typist. We owe it to the entire system to both test their skills while giving them the opportunity to see what the job is really like.
This is one step in the often complicated process of hiring the best talent. Finding the right applicants in the first place can be the first stressor on the hiring manager or human resources department. That’s where WomensJobList.com can help. Posting your position with WJL can match you with the best talent across the country or right next door.
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