Interviews and the importance of preparation

Once you have reached the interview stage, don't forget this is a two-way process. It is not just down to the candidate to impress you - please remember how important it is that you sell the organisation and indeed yourself to the candidate. Believe me, the candidate has choice in the current market place and therefore it is essential that your organisation makes a good impression on the interviewees.

A good interview technique involves a few basic things that anybody can apply - Namely putting candidates at ease, effective listening, making an effort not to talk too much and offering to answer any questions.

Do not underestimate the importance of getting formal interview training from an external expert. Remember this minimal investment can substantially improve your chances of getting your hiring process right.

Preparation prior to the interview is important - in particular review CVs and application forms and identify questions that can get to the heart of the candidate's experience and working style. Competency based interview techniques - questions that focus on examples of how a candidate behaved in a real situation, can be helpful. This tends to give a better picture than simply asking the interviewees opinion of how they might act in an imaginary situation.

Assessment techniques such as personality questionnaires and aptitude and skills tests provide additional information, but the assessment you choose should be appropriate for your vacancy. Psychometric tests are a valuable tool - in my opinion they can be 85/90% accurate although it can be difficult to apply an exact science to people - if they are the basis on which you hire then they are flawed but they can be a terrific tool to give you questions in the interview process (usually at second interview).

Testing generally can have a part to play, for example asking short listed candidate to prepare a presentation on a key issue facing your organisation can give you information about their ability to research a topic and their communication skills.

The most important piece of advice

Be prepared, your selection success will be significantly enhanced. This will be a key business decision - indeed a critical business decision based on the cost of getting it wrong - would we go in to a meeting with a key customer hoping to win a major contract without preparation? The interview process should be the same.