Interview preparation sets the stage for effective interviews that create good first impressions. Turn your interviews into marketing events that keep candidates interested in your company. Read on to learn how!

Ann Clifford

Dos and Don'ts
Can you discuss personal topics if you take a candidate to lunch?

See answer provided below.

3 Planning Tips for Interviewers
A well planned interview improves the quality of the information obtained about the candidate. It also demonstrates to candidates you respect them and their time. Conduct effective interviews with three simple tips:

Create a master list of questions: Select relevant questions that address both technical and soft skills.

Coordinate hiring managers: Be sure everyone receives the candidates' resume and position profile in advance. Assign interview questions to each hiring manager to avoid frustrating repetition for candidates.

Know details: Readily have answers to commonly asked questions about number of employees, sales, growth projections, and performance expectations.

The 60 Minute Interview
A consistent interview structure should be utilized with each candidate. Use the following format to gather information you can easily compare and contrast!

Step 1: Build Rapport - 2 minutes: Break the ice by talking about casual subjects.

Step 2: Tell Your Story - 5 minutes: Inform the candidate about the company and position.

Step 3: Experience & Skills - 10 minutes: Technical skills and experience pertinent to the position.

Step 4: Behavioral Information - 35 minutes: Ask behavioral questions and use follow-up questions that begin with "what, when, where, how or why."

Step 5: Candidate Questions - 6 minutes: Allow the candidate to ask questions concerning the company and position.

Step 6: Wrap up - 2 minutes: Thank the candidate for their time and inform them of next steps in the interview process.

Safari Interview Tip
If you are a privately held company and a candidate asks about annual revenues or other sensitive information in an interview, should you provide details? Yes, revealing the information will show candidates that your company has an open and honest work environment. If the information is too sensitive to reveal, offer to provide the information at the time of a job offer.

Safari Success Story
EKeeper Systems engaged Safari Solutions to manage their hiring campaign for a Sales Representative and Technical Consultants. An integrated recruitment marketing approach, including targeted advertising and a new TargetPort hosted career site, resulted in three new hires!