Expert Opinion: The art of conducting an effective job interview

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Stockport-based HR outsourcing firm, Hallidays HR, explains how finding the right person to join your business starts with an effective job interview.

From encouraging productivity to improving team dynamics and customer satisfaction, hiring the right person can have a significant impact on your business success. In this blog, discover the key steps to conducting successful job interviews and finding the perfect hire for your team. 

It’s All About the Preparation 

• Draft a comprehensive job description and clearly define the necessary skills and qualifications needed for the role. By taking the time to identify the key competencies required for the position, you will also gain a clear understanding of what qualities you are seeking in a candidate. 
• Reflect on the culture of your business and identify what you can offer potential candidates – remember this is a chance for them to explore their interest in the role/company, not just the other way around! 
• Thoroughly review CVs to shortlist candidates who meet your essential criteria. 
• Create a selection process. Consider your interview questions, whether a test is necessary (technical/behavioural) and who will do each stage of the process. 
• Conduct telephone interviews before any in person meetings as they are quicker and more convenient for both you and the candidate; they can be a useful way to screen the applicants and let the candidate know what to expect, before moving to the next stage of hiring. 

The Structure: Navigating Face to Face Interviews 

Introduction 

Start the interview with a warm welcome and introduce yourself and the company. 

Ask Relevant Questions 

Pose tailor-made questions to assess the candidate’s suitability for the role and their fit within the company. 

Assess Skills, Experiences and Qualifications 

Through open-ended questions, move past the details on their CV to gain a clear understanding of their capabilities. For example, you could ask “Can you describe how you handle tight deadlines?” or “What are your methods for avoiding errors?” or “What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome this?”. 

Address Candidate Questions 

Encourage them to ask questions and provide detailed responses to allay any concerns they may have. 

Provide Next Steps and Timelines 

Conclude the interview by outlining the next steps in the hiring process and setting expectations for follow-up communications. 

Candidate Evaluation – DISC Profiling 

During the interview, make detailed notes to ensure accurate evaluation and to facilitate candidate comparison.  However, it is not only important to analyse candidates’ answers to identify the strongest fit for the role, but to consider the candidate’s fit within the team and wider business. 

To help assess this cultural fit, we recommend DISC personality profiling. A DISC questionnaire is easy to understand and takes about 5 minutes for candidates to complete online.  Their answers are collated to create a profile measuring four core personality traits: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance.  

The report produced can be used as an objective benchmark for assessing a candidate’s fit within a team and to help identify strengths and potential difficulties before they arise.  If other members of the team have DISC profiles, we are able to delve into how these two different personalities will interact with each other; we can identify positive features of the working relationship as well as any challenges that may crop up. 

Furthermore, DISC can also be used as the basis of a job match, comparing a candidate’s profile against a role and reporting on their suitability. 

Benefits of Finding the Right Person for Your Team 

Increased Positivity and Efficiency: When the right person is hired, they bring the necessary expertise and skills to perform their work efficiently. This contributes to increased productivity, as they can deliver high-quality work within the expected timeframes. 

Better Team Dynamics and Collaboration: A suitable candidate not only possesses the technical ability but also fits well into the existing team dynamics. This leads to improved collaboration, effective communication, and a positive work environment. 

Reduced Employee Turnover: When businesses hire the right person, they tend to have better job satisfaction and are more likely to stay with the company. This reduces employee turnover, saving both time and money spent on recruitment and training new hires. 

Improved Customer Satisfaction: Finding the best person for the job can mean selecting an individual who understands and prioritises customer needs. This leads to an enhanced customer experience, increased loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth referrals