Interviewer Etiquettes to Conduct a Successful Interview

It is essential for interviewers to be conscious of their words and actions during an interview as it can make a candidate feel comfortable or uncomfortable. The goal of an interview is to assess a candidate's qualifications, but it is also an opportunity for a candidate to get to know the company and the interviewer. If a candidate feels comfortable, they are more likely to be themselves and provide honest answers to questions. There are certain interviewer etiquettes that can make candidates feel comfortable and increase the chances of conducting a successful interview.

You’re going to learn:

Make sure you are prepared

Put the candidate at ease

Be friendly and personable

Be respectful of the candidate's time

Avoid leading questions

Be aware of your body language

Ask open-ended questions

Avoid making assumptions

Encourage the candidate to ask questions

Thank the candidate for their time

1. Make sure you are prepared:

One of the most important things you can do to make a candidate feel comfortable is to be prepared for the interview. This means being familiar with the candidate's resume and having a good understanding of the role they are interviewing for. Reviewing the candidate's resume beforehand will give you a better sense of their qualifications and help you formulate questions. It will also show the candidate that you are interested in them and are willing to take the time to learn about them.

2. Put the candidate at ease:

The first few minutes of an interview can be the most nerve-wracking for a candidate. As the interviewer, it is your job to put the candidate at ease and make them feel comfortable. You can do this by starting with some small talk and getting to know the candidate on a personal level. Ask them about their hobbies, interests, or anything else that would help you get to know them better. This will help the candidate feel more relaxed and will make the rest of the interview more enjoyable.

3. Be friendly and personable:

Your goal as the interviewer is to get to know the candidate, but you also want to make sure you come across as friendly and personable. This will put the candidate at ease and make them more likely to open up to you. Remember to smile and use positive body language throughout the interview. Avoid crossing your arms or looking bored, as this will make the candidate feel like they are not worth your time.

4. Be respectful of the candidate's time:

An interview is a two-way street, and it is important to respect the candidate's time as well as your own. This means arriving on time and being efficient with your questions. Avoid going off on tangents or asking irrelevant questions. The candidate should feel like their time is being valued, and that you are interested in learning about them and their qualifications.

5. Avoid leading questions:

Leading questions are those that suggest a certain answer or force the candidate to agree with you. These types of questions can put the candidate on the defensive and make them uncomfortable. Instead, ask open-ended questions that allow the candidate to freely express their thoughts and opinions. This will give you a better sense of who they are and what they have to offer.

6. Be aware of your body language:

Your body language can say a lot about how you're feeling, and it can also influence the way the candidate feels. If you're crossing your arms or avoiding eye contact, the candidate will pick up on this and it will make them feel uncomfortable. Instead, try to relax and be open with your body language. This will show the candidate that you're interested in them and that you're comfortable with them.

7. Ask open-ended questions:

Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. They require the candidate to think about their answer and provide more than just a one-word response. These types of questions are great for getting to know the candidate on a personal level and for gauging their critical thinking skills.

8. Avoid making assumptions:

Avoid making assumptions about the candidate or the role they are interviewing for. This can put the candidate on the spot and make them feel uncomfortable. If you're not sure about something, ask the candidate to clarify. This will show that you're interested in learning more about them and that you're willing to listen to their answers.

9. Encourage the candidate to ask questions:

The candidate should feel like they have the opportunity to ask questions during the interview. This will show that you're open to dialogue and that you're interested in their thoughts and opinions. Encourage the candidate to ask questions about the role, the company, or anything else they may be curious about.

10. Thank the candidate for their time:

At the end of the interview, be sure to thank the candidate for their time. This shows that you appreciate their effort and that you're grateful for the opportunity to speak with them. It's also a nice way to end the interview on a positive note.

Conclusion:

When interviewing candidates, it is important to be professional and courteous in order to put them at ease. Following a few simple rules can make a big difference in how the interviewee perceives the interviewer and the overall experience. Taking the time to conduct the interview correctly can pay off in the end by helping to ensure that the best candidate is chosen for the job.

When interviewing candidates, it is important to be professional and courteous in order to put them at ease. Following a few simple rules can make a big difference in how the interviewee perceives the interviewer and the overall experience. Taking the time to conduct the interview correctly can pay off in the end by helping to ensure that the best candidate is chosen for the job.