- DO create a comfortable environment for interviewing. …
- DON’T ask personal questions. …
- DON’T ask discriminatory questions. …
- DO keep the conversation focused on job-related information. …
- DO provide the candidate with information regarding next steps.
It’s no surprise that a strong interview is a determining factor in securing a new position. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be – resulting in a better outcome.
To ensure you put your best foot forward we have outlined some common interview faux pas to avoid when facing the pressure of a job interview.
So, what are the top five things you should always do before or during an interview?
Preparation is the first essential step in the interview process, so don’t let yourself down before it’s even taken place. Researching the company you are meeting with will show your interest in the business and give you an upper hand. Look at their website and what’s happening in the news to widen your research and see what the media is saying about the company. Don’t limit your research to this alone – make sure you research the background of your interviewers, including their career history and specific achievements.
Employers: Don’t EVER Ask These Interview Questions
In addition, increasing numbers of states and municipalities have statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual lifestyle or preference, or smoking habits. Remember the rule of thumb is that if it has nothing to do with the position youre trying to fill, dont ask.
Be prepared for an applicant to turn the tables during an interview. Applicants are sharper these days, and most applicants will have some questions for you, too. For high-quality applicants, it may be the employer who has to sell his or her business as the place to work. You have to give applicants information that keeps their interest in working for you high. But dont oversell — it can lead to employee dissatisfaction or costly turnover or worse.
While conducting an interview does not have to be a stiff and formal sit-down, there are distinct parts to an interview, and each of them is important. The following outline is a guide to handling each part of interview:
When you are conducting an interview, keep in mind your role as the interviewer includes both conveying and obtaining information. Part of this process is knowing what interview questions to ask and perhaps even more importantly, the questions you shouldnt ask in an interview.
What if youre not subject to anti-discrimination laws? Even if you are not subject to laws prohibiting certain types of inquiries, we recommend that you stay away from them.
Guide: Job Interview Questions: The dos and don’ts in the US
Everyone involved in the hiring process in the US should know that there are questions you must never ask during a job interview. These illegal questions can have significant legal consequences. It is illegal to ask a candidate about the following topics:
Additionally, in Massachusetts, it is now illegal to ask candidates about current and past salary, or to request this information from current or former employers –unless an offer has already been made to the candidate, and the candidate has formally given approval for doing so.
Asking such questions and then rejecting the candidates is an excellent way to invite a discrimination lawsuit with the potential for significant financial consequences, along with the scrutiny of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the Justice Department.
1. How was your commute? Will your commuting time be acceptable during rush hours? How far people are willing to commute varies wildly. A few people are willing to travel for over an hour, while others think 30 minutes is too long. However, lengthy commutes are among the major reasons for turnover. Therefore, be aware that candidates who travel long distances might be poor prospects long-term.
2. What do you do for fun? It’s a good question to help you discover if a candidate can get really passionate about something.
3. What do you already know about our company? You may assume everyone has Googled your company’s name – if they haven’t, you probably don’t want them. As a follow-up question, you may ask: What else would you like to know? Is there anything that you really like, or anything that gives you pause?
4. Where do you see yourself being two years from now? Five years from now? You’ll get an idea of how ambitious they are and/or how realistic they are.
5. Tell me about a recent time when you had a substantial disagreement with your direct supervisor. To probe on conflict resolution skills, or lack thereof. You’ll know if the candidate gets overly emotional or overly excited when describing the conflict. Follow-up questions may be: How was it resolved? Now that you have the benefit of hindsight, in retrospect, who was right?
6. Tell me about a business success you’re really proud of. Managing failures is key; managing successes is, too. You’ll get a sense of how the candidate thinks about achievement, and how much his/her vision aligns with your own culture. Follow-up questions may be: What do you think were some of the components that led to the success? Was it a team effort? Could you have done it alone?
7. Tell me about the last time you made a significant mistake. What did you learn from the experience? Everyone has made mistakes. If the job applicant says he hasn’t, then think twice before hiring.
8. Why do you want to work here? If the candidate answers, “to earn the good salary that you posted,” you probably don’t want him or her.
9. If we talked to your last supervisor, what do you think they would say about you? Follow-up questions may be: What would they say about your outstanding qualities? What shortcomings would they probably point out?
10. Where else have you applied and where else did you get past the front door? It is essential to get a sense of how much the candidate is on an active job search, who you are competing with, and how much they value your job opportunity. Follow-up questions may be: How do we compare? Where does this opportunity rank in your mind? Where are we on a scale of 1 to 10? What would it take for us to be a 10?
You may also like: 10 best interview practices to hire the right person [/cherry_row]
Make a good first impression
If youre going to a face-to-face interview, plan your trip there, do a trial run if it is at an unfamiliar location and arrive a few minutes early for the interview. Late arrival for a job interview is inexcusable. Bring your CV and ensure you know the dates and its specifics so you can confidently talk through your CV and give examples.
For a video interview, minimise technical issues by testing your video tool the day before your interview, on the day of your interview, ensure you are set up and ready to go at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time, in a quiet and comfortable place. You wont have the luxury of being able to offer a firm handshake or make eye contact with your interviewer, so the best alternative is for you to smile confidently and appear interested and engaged.
Looking the part is also important and you can rarely go wrong wearing a well-fitting suit. The amount of care you take in your presentation is a sign of your interest in the role and your seriousness in making a good impression.
Listen and respond accordingly
Too often the feedback from clients is that the candidate does not answer the question in a clear and direct manner. Don’t run circles around the questions, listen and answer accordingly while using examples from your experience to back it up.
FAQ
Do and don’ts for interview questions?
- Don’t forget to research the company. …
- Do prepare questions. …
- Don’t be late. …
- Do dress the part. …
- Don’t be negative about previous employers. …
- Do tell the truth. …
- Don’t be modest. …
- Do be memorable.
What are the do’s and don’ts of conducting an interview?
- Do your homework. …
- Make a good first impression. …
- Listen and respond accordingly. …
- Prepare smart, open ended questions to ask the interviewer. …
- Sell your strengths and expertise. …
- Don’t speak poorly about your present or former employers. …
- Don’t falsify information. …
- Don’t speak over the interviewer.
What employers should not ask in an interview?
- Establish rapport. Greet the applicant with a pleasant smile, firm handshake, and a casual statement or two. …
- Gather information. …
- Give information about your business and even “sell” the position. …
- Close the interview. …
- Evaluate your notes and compare candidates.
