Conducting Successful Job Interviews With Interview Question Formats

Conducting a job interview for the first time can be overwhelming. It is important in the interview to stay objective and in control, and at the end of the day, what is most important is selecting the right candidate.

Being successful at conducting interviews is a major part of managerial positions. Before conducing any interview, it is important to develop a set of standard interview question format that you will pose to each candidate. Make sure these questions are relevant to the job at hand. Open-ending questions that begin with “Describe…” or “Give me an example of…” can lead to greater insight into the candidate’s temperament and job skills.

The basic interview format is as follows:

Opening/Introductions

• Offer the candidates copies of the job description and have their application and resumes on hand.
• Introduce yourself and/or the interview committee and give the candidate a brief overview of the organization as well as the open position.
• Find some common ground right away to make the applicant feel at ease during the interview.

Interview Questions

• Use a question outline you have made up ahead of time or borrowed from a list of the most common interview questions.
• Try to avoid the most cliché questions and aim to ask questions relevant to the job opening and the candidate’s skills and experience.
• Give the candidate plenty of time to think before answering, but don’t be afraid to gently interrupt to keep the interview on track if necessary.

Closing

• Ask for or go over the provided list of references and tell the applicant you will be contacting them.
• Determine the applicant’s availability and potential start date.
• Give the applicant an opportunity to add anything that might not have been covered in the interview questions.
• Encourage the candidate to contact you if they have any questions or anything to add.
• Discuss the timeframe for the interview process, how many applicants there are left to interview, and when you think you will be contacting candidates for a follow-up interview or job offer.

Avoid inappropriate interview questions such as asking the candidate’s age, maiden name, number of children or pregnancy plans, marital status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, club memberships, and nature of any disabilities. Use common sense where this is concerned, and maintain objectivity at all points during the interview process. Stay in control of the interview, be an active listener, and remain respectful, giving the right candidate the opportunity to impress.