Preparing for interviews is not exclusive to job seekers; interviewers must also gear-up in order to create the perfect setting that will allow them to attract that perfect candidate! ZenHR provides you with a pre-interview checklist for a successful and fruitful interview process:

“Checklists seem able to defend anyone, even the experienced, against failure in many more tasks than we realized.” ― Atul Gawande

• Print Out a Copy of the Candidate’s CV

Having a candidate’s CV will come in handy to use as a reference during the interview. It helps you evaluate if the candidates really meet what is mentioned in their CVs. In addition, you can write notes on it in accordance with the questions you ask and the answers they give you.

• Assess the Candidate’s Work Samples

Asking a candidate for work samples is not just something you routinely ask for; it actually helps you see if he or she is compatible with the open vacancy. This is especially important if you’re hiring writers, translators, designers or other roles in the design and IT fields.

• Re-Read the Job Description

Reviewing the job description will give you comprehensive knowledge of the position you want to fill and its requirements, and accordingly, you will be able to ask the right questions and discuss the role in-depth.

• Prepare a List of Standard and Behavioral Questions

Prepare a list of standard questions and behavioral-based questions allowing you to point out extraordinary candidates. Behavioral-based questions allow you to reveal how the candidate previously handled different work situations, and the response will give you an idea of the candidate’s personality and problem-solving skills.

• Revive Your Knowledge of Your Company

While this might sound like an odd piece of advice, in today’s ever-changing business market, reviving your knowledge about your company is very essential for the success of any interview you conduct. Go through your company’s structure, goals, and benefits all over again so you can convey these points to the candidate in a clear way.

• Prepare a Standard Evaluation Form

Having a certain criteria for evaluation will ensure equal opportunity for all candidates applying for the same position. Take the time to standardize the evaluation process to create a benchmark that allows you to identify the best candidates easily.

Mohannad Qudah