Take a Test    Article Library    CEEJ Home    Submit an Article     Contact CEEJ

Article # 0007

INTERVIEWING – 10 Rules for Success

The PURPOSE of this article is to provide a practical guide to interviewing for both job applicants and employers.   In my experience, everyone wants to do a great job at interviewing, but most people have never received any interviewing training, either on the employer or applicant side.  While formal training sessions are available, this guide provides a quick and easy tool for both employers and applicants.

Some proven interviewing steps which should be utilized BY ANY EMPLOYER trying to fill a job vacancy are as follows:

• A top priority in business should be to obtain and keep better people than your competition; the best way to avoid poor employee performance is to take the proper time to hire talented employees who are also a good fit for the position
• Start the selection process by writing a detailed job description.  Pre-screen candidates with a short phone interview to confirm interest and basic requirements.
• A team interview can be a very effective use of time for both sides.  Schedule the interviews in advance.  Select as interviewers the personnel that will interface most with the new hire.
• Prepare questions and criteria in advance of the interview; use questions to obtain information about the applicant which demonstrates their qualifications versus the criteria.  Help the applicant prepare for the interview in advance – (e.g. the applicant should be directed to the company website, if applicable.)
• Interview duration should last for at least 1 hour, as 30 minutes does not provide sufficient information with rushing.
• Start the interview by putting the applicant at ease and explaining the basics of the position.  The interview time should be split, so that the applicant talks about 50-70% of the allotted time, but remember that it is an exchange of information.  The interview is not a grill session.
• Attempt to ask the same questions to each applicant, so that it will be easier to compare candidates afterward.  Since you should ask a few specific questions about a candidate’s resume, then each candidate will have a few questions which are unique.
• Take a 15 minute break after each interview and use this time to write down notes about the session; use the pre-determined criteria to jar your memory and complete your notes before starting the next interview; hold off on making conclusions, and try to be as objective as possible.  Be disciplined about this step.  If you fail to do so, then you will have difficulty later in sorting out the details, which hurts your objectivity.
• Spend some time with each applicant in a social setting, such as lunch or dinner, to get a feel for the applicant’s social skills.  People often react very differently than in a formal interview setting.
• Interviewers should meet as a team immediately after the interviews are complete; wait until all interviewers have completed their notes; then, instruct each interviewer to rank the applicants from top to bottom (1 being the best candidate, 2 being second best, and so on…); tabulate the results in a table on the board.  This process usually narrows the list down to 3 or less candidates.  Eliminate all of the candidates, except for the top 2 or 3; then, instruct each interviewer to re-rank the top 2 or 3 candidates.  If this process fails to produce a clear #1 candidate, then hold an informal discussion in which each interviewer asks the others why they ranked the candidates the way that they did, and give each person some time to ask and answer these questions; then, re-rank and re-tabulate.  In almost all cases, this process will yield a clear winner, as long as the selection criteria are clear.  If not, then pick the top 2 criteria, re-rank the applicants based upon the top 2 criteria only, and the winner should be obvious at this point.

There is always uncertainty in hiring for a new position, but if you follow this process, then you can certainly achieve better interviewing and hiring results.  The time that you spend up front will be paid back ten fold in avoiding and trying to correct poor performance.

If YOU ARE A JOB APPLICANT, then you can use the following steps to improve your interviewing success:

• Rule #1 – prepare for the interview!  Learn the basics about the company (i.e. products or services, years in business, locations, customers, etc.) before you show up.  Visit the company website in advance; try to understand where this new position fits into the company structure; if you cannot understand it clearly, then plan to ask questions in the interview to obtain this information.
• Expect and be ready to answer the basic questions, such as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• Think about what you want in a job and also what you don’t want (e.g. do you like to travel, do you prefer minimal supervision, are you able to multi-task?).  Determine in advance what you need to know to decide if you want the job; then, use the interview to obtain this information.
• Be honest – it is usually obvious if you are not.
• Know your strong points and be sure that they come out during the interview.  Admit your weak points without hesitation, but explain that you are always trying to improve yourself and mean it.
• Listen carefully; if you don’t understand a question or comment, ask for clarification.
• Show enthusiasm where appropriate.
• Avoid making blanket statements, unless you are 100% sure.  Don’t paint yourself into a corner.  If you make a claim or state an opinion, be prepared to back it up with supporting details or examples, if requested.
• After you obtain a good picture of the job, ask the interviewer(s) what they are seeking in a job applicant (seems like an obvious question, but very few people ask it).
• Be flexible, except on your top priorities.  Be polite, courteous, and realistic.

There is no magic formula to obtain a job offer, but if you follow this process, then you can certainly achieve better interviewing results.  Good luck, job seekers.

BIOGRAPHY ON THE AUTHOR

Adam Berg obtained a BS Mechanical Engineering from Rice University in 1991, and a Texas Professional Engineering license in 1996.  He volunteered as an alumni undergraduate admissions interviewer for ten years, and is now Manager of Projects for FMC Technologies’ Fluid Control Division.  He has led the interview process, conducted on campus and off campus interviews, and helped select candidates for new positions within FMC Technologies.

Written for CEEJ PUBLISHING, by Adam Berg, April, 2005.

Article # 0007         TEST QUESTIONS:

1.   A top priority in business should be to...? 

1. obtain and keep better people than your competition

2. interview as many applicants as possible for every position.

3. steal the best people from the competition

4. All of the above

2.   A team interview can be a very effective ....?

1. method to introduce the applicant to the other employees.

2. technique to intimidate the applicant.

3. use of time for both sides.

4. All of the above

3.   What should the interviewer do prior to the interview?

1. prepare criteria for the position.

2. prepare questions to be asked.

3. help the applicant prepare for the interview.

4. All of the above

4.   What is the minimum time requirement for a proper interview?

1. 30 minutes

2. 1 hour.

3. 2 hours,

4. 1 day

5.   Why should you ask each applicant the same questions?

1. It makes less work for the interviewer.

2. So that it will be easier to compare candidates afterward.

3. To ensure that you comply with fair hiring standards.

4. All of the above

6.   What should the interviewer do after each interview?

1. Write down notes about the interview.

2. Discuss the applicant with the rest of the office.

3. Shred the applicants personal information.

4. Take a coffee break.

7.   Why should the interviewer try to have lunch or dinner with each applicant?

1. So they may write-off the meal on their taxes.

2. For a chance to get away from the office.

3. To get a feel for the applicant’s social skills.

4. All of the above

8.   What is the first rule for an applicant?

1. Have your suit cleaned and pressed.

2. Prepare for the interview.

3. Review your resume.

4. All of the above

9.   As an applicant, what should you do if you don't understand a question?

1. Ask for clarification.

2. Bring out your strong points.

3. Ask the interviewer for some coffee.

4. All of the above

10.   As a job applicant, what should you do during the interview?

1. Be honest.

2. Be prepared to answer basic questions.

3. Ask the interviewers what they are seeking in a job applicant.

4. All of the above

Take a Test    Article Library    CEEJ Home    Submit an Article     Contact CEEJ