Most business leaders and owners will declare that their people are the most valuable assets to their business. A dynamic and motivated workforce will certainly elevate the success of an organisation. At SimkissGuy, we believe that an interview should be an enjoyable experience for all, so here are our thoughts as to how to make the most of every interview and help you secure the very best talent for your business.
Interviews are a great opportunity for you to promote your business in the most positive way. There is huge value to be gained by making sure the manner and style of the interview is an encouraging and helpful experience for the candidate. Ultimately only one candidate will be successful, but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage the expectations of all the candidates you meet and leave them with a great impression of you, your company and a real desire to work with you.
CV’s are usually your first introduction to your prospective employees. When working with a good quality recruitment partner, there should be no more than 4 or 5 CVs sent to you, each of these handpicked for your vacancy. Your recruitment partner will discuss each CV with you in detail and provide you with reasons why they feel each candidate is suitable for your role.
Try not to make hasty decisions at this point. The chances are that those with less obvious CV based experience have been selected for having the personal qualities, culture fit and attitude that will be essential for your business, alongside those capabilities you need for the day to day requirements of the job description. After all, if you are working with a trusted recruitment partner, and they really know and understand your business, you will value their opinion. Any concerns should be easily allayed by the initial conversation where you discuss the shortlist.
We often hear that employers can be very wary of CV’s with a little more movement. However, try not to automatically discard these. It is not always the case, but a really dynamic candidate may move around more if they are not able to find an employer who will recognise their potential and channel their ambitions.
Finally, always question gaps on a CV. Redundancy has been an all too familiar word for many in recent times. So how has the candidate applied themselves to looking for a new role during this time? These questions can provide real insight.
It goes without saying that you would always expect a candidate to arrive prepared for their interview with you. But how well will you have prepared? It is important to allow an interview the time and attention it deserves.
Ideally, meeting with 3 or 4 candidates at first interview stage will give you a good idea of the general calibre of prospective employees who are available for your role. Allowing 45 minutes to an hour for each is a good rule of thumb. If you cannot meet with all candidates in one day, provide interview slots over the course of 2 or 3 days. Ideally leave 30 minutes between each interview to finish your notes, gather your thoughts and prepare for your next meeting. If you like to conduct second interviews, then absolutely do so. It is best to not let too much time lapse between first and second meetings.
The old saying is true; you never have a second chance to make a first impression, so make your greeting warm, encouraging and memorable. A candidate attending a job interview is most likely to be nervous, so do all you can to put them at ease. You would expect a candidate to be punctual for their interview, so greet them at their allotted time.
An interview should flow and have a relaxed conversational quality. Each question should lead to the candidate providing you with the motivations behind their decision making, their competency for your vacancy as a result of their previous experience and their ambitions and aspirations for the future.
Competency based interviewing should allow the candidate the opportunity to demonstrate their skills of:
Many job descriptions will highlight the above desirable characteristics for the role, so ask the candidate to give you examples of when and where in their career they have been put into practice.
Asking the candidate to talk to you about their pastimes outside of work towards the end of the interview shows real interest in them as a person and will demonstrate that you have considered their CV in depth. Hobbies, sports interest and cultural pursuits will give you an insight to the bigger picture of a candidate. Remember, allow the candidate to ask any questions they may have at the end of the interview.
Once all first and second interviews have been conducted, proceed to offering your chosen candidate a position within your business quickly to ensure that you don’t lose them to another opportunity.
For candidates that have not been successful in securing your role, provide them with constructive feedback and explain why they were not right for your opportunity at this time. After all, you never know if there may be another role that is more suited to their particular skills in the future.
Thanks for reaching out.
As always we really appreciate your support, SimkissGuy have helped us add real quality so far this year so the minute we can work together again, I’ll be badgering you no doubt!
Speak soon.
Hi Rebecca
I just wanted to thank you for the chocolate brownies that were delivered on my first day, it was incredibly thoughtful. I also wanted to again thank you and the wider team for all of the support you have given me over this interview process.
If there is anything I can do to support SimkissGuy Recruitment please let me know.
One week in and Claire is brilliant and is doing really well.
Many thanks for the excellent calibre of candidates, as usual from SimkissGuy!
Good evening,
I’ve just got back from work and what a cracking first day! I felt very welcomed, everyone was thorough with me explaining where things are and no question was a silly one to ask. Everyone from all departments answered questions I threw at them. Literally every single person was so nice and welcoming. I’m so looking forward to getting stuck it and going back tomorrow!
On another note, what a lovely surprise to have received the brownies from you. Total shock and very much welcomed. And such a kind reassuring gesture from yourselves.
Honestly I cannot thank you enough for prepping me, and helping me get this job. My thanks seems nothing to how I feel.
But once again, thank you
SimkissGuy Recruitment have placed all of my staff over the past 10 years, need I say anymore about the quality they provide! I also use SimkissGuy for all of our temporary cover when I need it too.
Each person is well qualified before you meet with them and the process is seamless, so pleased that they are a nominated supplier.
Can’t recommend them enough to you!
Hi Becky,
Thank you so much for your email.
I have spent the time to read through all of the documents and I will make sure I am prepared for the initial telephone call tomorrow.
I also would like to thank you and Helena for supporting me through this process.
Kind regards,
Hi Rebecca
I’m very appreciative for the work and support you and Helena have provided throughout this process whilst I’ve been looking for a new role.
Really looking forward to joining the team!
Best regards,
Hi Helena and Rebecca,
I hope you are both doing well and have had a lovely week?
I had to reach out to thank you so much for the brownies. They were very lovely and they have helped with the first week whilst I get to meet new colleagues!
Many thanks once again!
Hi Helena,
Just wanted to update you that my first couple days have gone really well and just undergoing my induction and training at the moment. Thank you again for your support and for the brownies, I really appreciate it!
I have shared your details with a few friends who should be in touch soon.
Thank you very much for your support and effort throughout this interview process, I really appreciate it. Whilst I wasn’t successful this time, I look forward to hearing about future roles from you.
All the best and have a lovely evening and weekend ahead.