Published on April 13, 2011
Reams have been written about how candidates should behave in an interview – right from how they walk and sit to how they think and answer. But what about etiquette rules for the other side of the interviewing table?
Can the interviewer get away with nasty or even ill-mannered behaviour just because he holds the trump card when it comes to the hiring decision?
Well, recruiters cannot afford to overlook the fact that both the sides are equally under evaluation. They too need to mind their P's and Q's as their actions are under the scanner as well.
Surprised, don't be! This is because an interviewer is the face of the organisation for the interviewing candidates. And if this vital first impression turns out unimpressive or off-putting, a potentially valuable employee may just decline an otherwise good job offer.
In fact, in a recent survey two-thirds of the surveyed job seekers corroborated that the interviewer affects their decision to accept a position!
And, needless to say, no organisation can afford this expensive loss of qualified and experienced talent. After all, you need them as much as they need you……
The interviewees are assessing you much more carefully than you can ever assess them. After all, they are the ones who may have to work in your organisation and even under you. Any slip-up on your part can cause long-lasting damage to the employer brand.
Therefore, it makes sense to prepare for the interview and put on your best behaviour. Here are a few tips:
It is important to dress appropriately and maintain a pleasant appearance at all times. Display a positive body language - shake hands, maintain comfortable eye contact, smile, nod at the answers and not appear bored, aloof, rude, distracted, arrogant or dismissive.
Other no-no's include sighing, tapping your pen, putting your feet on the desk and looking at your watch (unless these are used as stress-interviewing techniques to assess the candidate's reactions under pressure). This is not the time to multi-task either.
Always be punctual. Not keeping the interviewee waiting or prolonging the interview unnecessarily will show that you value his time.
Do introduce yourself and set a conversational tone for the interview by engaging in some small talk and describing the interview format before moving on to the questions.
Building a relaxed rapport is essential for making the candidate feel at ease. Also, be polite, courteous, respectful, fair, unbiased and consistent at all times.
Make it a point to peruse the candidate's resume beforehand and familiarise yourself with his background. Always keep the CV in front of you during the interview and do try to remember the candidate's name!
What you say and how you say it matters a lot. So, arm yourself by preparing some intelligent questions and ask them in a professional manner without trying to interrogate or intimidate the interviewee. Ask only appropriate job related questions and steer clear of discriminatory (illegal too) ones based on race, colour, religion, sex, age, nationality or disability.
Ensure that you listen attentively and show appropriate interest in the answers. While you should take notes, do not spend the entire interview looking down and scribbling away in your notebook.
The interview is not about you, so do not start talking about yourself in detail. Let him speak and ask questions while you answer them as honestly as possible. You can and should present the job/company in the best light, but do not sugar-coat it either.
When closing the interview, inform the candidate about the next step, like a second interview or when a decision is expected or when he can expect to hear from you. Also, give appropriate fact-based and objective feedback if asked for.
You can even choose to undergo professional interview training if needed. This will enable you to present yourself well enough to impress the candidates and get them to accept the job offer!
Finally, in the words of a top employer coach, “Every candidate that walks through the door is forming an opinion of you and your organisation. Make sure it's a positive one!”
Payal Chanania
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