INTERVIEWS HAVE NEVER BEEN my favorite thing. I have an innate ability to find a connection with anyone. That is an asset in my personal and professional life – but it has always felt like a liability in interviews. Recently though, I’ve realized this isn’t necessarily bad, because it taught me an important lesson: Gut instinct isn’t enough when making a new hire. Anyone can be impressive for an hour or let nerves get in their own way. Here are a few questions I’ve picked up that help me create a clear picture and make the right hiring decision. Question 1: Why [your organization]? At first blush, this sounds like a pretty basic question, but it can reveal several fundamentals about a candidate. For starters, it tells me if they’ve done their research on the company they’re applying to. You’d think that would be a basic first step for applicants, but not always! Asking why also lets me know, well, why they want to work with us. It’s important to know what attracts an applicant to your company and the open position. This question also gives me some insight into the candidate’s thinking. How do they view the position in terms of a career path? Are they thinking about us in the long term? Also, it tells me why they want that particular job, and not just a job. Question 2: Tell me about a time when… Here, I want to draw out the applicant’s own experiences and background. It can tell me a lot about how they think and their attitudes. Are The Art Of The Interview The interview is your best chance to get to know an applicant and determine whether they’ll be a successful part of your team. Having the right questions ready can make the conversation effective and illuminating. By Lindsey Davis, MAS Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com 30 • OCTOBER 2023 • PPAI Voices | Your Business
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==