Anyone can just step into your office with a resume in their hands and be interviewed for a job, so don’t you think as the hiring manager it is very important to know what you’re looking for in an applicant prior to the interview?
Here is what hiring managers must consider prior to the initial interview:
1) Does the applicant meet their immediate needs and can they grow in the position?
2) Can the applicant promote and expand the company’s vision?
3) Can the applicant reach greater heights in the future?
4) Will this person fit into the current company culture?
A Hiring Manager’s Role
As an HR professional about to go through an interview, you want to make sure that you do two things.
1) Research
your applicant; gather information and records to confirm they meet the job requirements. This includes reviewing their cover letter, resume and application.
Once this is complete and you have found that they meet these requirements then it is time to move them into the initial interview.
2) Prepare yourself for the interview between you and the candidate. You already know about your applicant, you have researched him/her and learned about all his/hers successes, so you know what to expect when the candidate comes in.
A recent article from Forbes titled, “What To Expect During An HR Interview? Five Questions You’ll Be Asked during an Interview,” gives you “Hiring Manager” example questions which will allow the candidate to talk about themselves and give answers relative to the application he or she filled out. Baseline questions similar to the ones Forbes shows in the article, allow for strong communication.
Narrowing It Down
After the initial interview it’s time to take the next step. Reducing the applicant pool down to the best match. You already figured out which applicant is highly-qualified and which ones are not. This is the time to narrow even further, this could include the salary expectations, the type of work environment they wish to have and the schedule that they wish to pursue. After that is all done, it is time to pick the best person for the job.
Communication During and After the Interview Process
Contact between yourself and the candidate is very important. Updating them with their application status, news and company information is very crucial. It allows them to be involved and be prepared for if they are hired. If not, they should be informed and given a “Thank You” for applying and putting in the time. If the applicant is hired, a confirmation “Congratulations” is very appreciated letting them know that all the hard work really paid off.
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