OUTLINE: Preface-getting prepared and designing interview-tips for conducting interviews-tricks to control interviews-conclusion. The post is basically written concerning recruitment agencies in Nepal.

An interview is a formal, verbal communication meeting conducted by an employer with an applicant that has been short listed through the recruitment process for the final selection and job offer. In this session of dialogue the interviewer asks questions to find out whether the candidate is suitable for the vacant position. We may say it’s a conversation in which the interviewee is evaluated. Therefore, it is not like a social discussion or information sharing meeting. Because at the end of interview a candidate is either selected or rejected and if selected he/she is gets a job offer or joining letter to start work and sometimes following up with an orientation or training if needed. Interviews can be conducted face to face, on the phone and through video conferencing. Similarly there are several styles of conducting interviews. Some interviewers conduct them by asking questions from a list of questions, some start with a simple conversation and some start with relevant open ended questions e.g, why are you interested in taking this opportunity? It actually depends upon the nature of the job for which the interview is being conducted. Same questions cannot be asked from everyone.

For an effective interview the interviewer has to conduct it with high level skills. It’s always the interviewer’s job to make the interview interesting, exciting and fascinating and not the interviewee’s job. Sometimes interviewers expect the opposite and at the end they remain no connection with the subject. That is why some interviews are interesting while others are boring.

It’s the responsibility of the interviewer to make a comfortable and an information sharing environment so that the most important points related to the job and the company can be discussed freely. To get the best out of an interview is making it comfortable says Katie Couric, a talk show host. Having a friendly attitude helps to make the interviewee open up and share true things about her/him. It is very important to bring the communication onto a matching point through understanding and creating a similar level of language, tone and spirit.

An interviewer should deeply connect with the candidate and should use techniques to communicate with people. Getting up till the most sensitive information is a part of an effective and successful interview. Reaching the truth must be the target.

GETTING PREPARED FOR CONDUCTING AND DESIGNING AN INTERVIEW:

Getting prepared for conducting the interview is as important as preparing to give an interview. An interviewer should have a good know how about the vacant position, its job description, the required qualification, experience and competencies. Reviewing the application, resume and cover letter before helps a lot. Studying in advance about the subject who is going to be interviewed and having some information about his background helps in connecting and showing familiarity.  

After giving a formal introduction question are asked. It’s good to start with open ended question and then narrowing it down by being specific. Coming up to know about achievements and then start discussing a new area. Ending up with follow ups are very helpful. Having an attitude to ask insightful things, knowing about the candidate’s life path and being curious to know about something exciting and new makes the interview interesting. But besides this it’s very important to remain focused on the interview and to control it.

TIPS FOR CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS:

• OBSERVE AND LEARN FROM TOP INTERVIEWERS: By watching a mastered interviewer conducting an interview gives an opportunity to learn new skills, smoothly carry on an interview, ending up with follow-up questions.
• NOTE DOWN INSIGHTS: By noting the deepest and critical insights help in decision making. Its good for the interviewer to take informative notes too. Having outrageous image techniques works a lot because sometimes the conversation or dialogue is full of scattered information.
• Asking proper, safe, relevant and legal interview questions,
• Avoid making discriminatory sentences
• Don’t state any binding contract.

TRICK FOR CONTROLLING INTERVIEWS:

The trickiest part of an interview is its listening side. As communicating is important, listening is important too. It’s good to give a margin to the interviewee to speak up and to express his thoughts and feelings about the topic he is asked to talk about. Psychologically it makes the candidate relaxed and confident that the listener really wants to know about me and my views. Managing the candidate’s reactions is also a tactic.

CONCLUSION: There is no hard and fast rule for adopting or copying any interview pattern or style. It needs practice and sharpness of mind too. Getting up till the best hiring decision is the success of an interviewer. There are several admired interviewers that are specially hired to conduct interviews with famous celebrities and politicians. Performing the best practices during an interview helps to reduce the risk of wasting time, money and resources of the organization as well as the coming up candidates.

Author Bio:
Sudarshan Sapkota is an entrepreneur, recruitment specialist and owner at Manpower Supply from Nepal. Sudarshan is interested in writing and blogging in human resource and recruitment. If you want to know anything related to human resource and recruitment, you can contact him.