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.
Good Evening Rebecca,
Thank you so much for the brownies, they were amazing.
My first day in the office was wonderful, everyone is really nice and made me feel welcomed.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate all your support.
Thanks again, I appreciate the support you have provided from start to finish
Thanks Helena, working with yourself and Becky has been a breath of fresh air.
You’re both very detailed and communication has been fantastic!
Thanks for your help so far and fingers crossed it’s good news!
Hi ladies,
Thank you so much for your kind words and warm congratulations on my promotion, I truly appreciate it! 😊
I appreciate all that you’ve done for me to get to this stage. I couldn’t have done it without you both!
Hi Becky
Just a quick note to say thank you for sending through some promising looking candidates 😊 It is great to be working again with a familiar, friendly face who is always reliable.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for the effort and expertise that SimkissGuy Recruitment has put into helping us identify a suitable candidate for this role. I am really pleased with who we are bringing on board and am looking forward to working with her to help develop the organisation.
Thanks you for all your help Helena, you were great!
I am really enjoying the role so far and I hope I’ll be happy for a long time here, but if there’s any searching in the future, I’ll be in straight back in touch.
Rebecca and Helena did an amazing job for us, way above and beyond – thank you!
Jessie (temporary candidate supplied by SimkissGuy Recruitment) has hit the ground running and is already making a real difference. She’s picked things up incredibly fast, and we’re already feeling the benefits of having her on board.
One of the things that really stands out about Jessie is how quickly she learns. She takes on new processes with ease and isn’t afraid to dive into challenges. Her proactive attitude and willingness to get stuck in have been a huge help to the team.
Recruitment is particularly tough at the moment, so having someone with Jessie’s positivity and strong work ethic is a real asset. She stays motivated, focused, and brings great energy, even when things get tricky.
Honestly, we couldn’t be happier with how she’s doing, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow in the role!
I met Rebecca Simkiss and Helena King at one of the lowest points in my life, just after leaving a job where I had become completely disengaged due to repeated mistreatment and discrimination. Feeling lost and uncertain about my future, I put my trust in them wholeheartedly—and I’ve never looked back.
Your kindness, dedication, and expertise helped me rebuild my confidence and secure my next role within weeks. Your unwavering support throughout the entire process—before applications, during applications, and through the sifting stage—made all the difference. You ensured I felt heard, valued, and that my needs were met. Even after I started my new job, you continued to support me.
You and Helena are more than recruiters—you are professionals who truly change lives and restore hope. You not only helped shape my life but did the same, selflessly, for everyone I recommended your way.
Although life has taken me in a completely different direction, I will always recommend your top-notch service, dedication, determination and high professionalism. Please don’t let anyone dim your sparkle or think they can shade your excellence.