The secret to interviewing good candidates

We've been interviewing lots of people at my job lately and I often wonder if we all over think the process.

We look for specific skills. We scour resumes for companies we admire. We ask thoughtful questions and hope for great responses. But are we really using the right measuring sticks?

I'm not so sure. We all spend so much time with our co-workers - more than with our families - and yet we often use impersonal methods for evaluating job candidates.

The truth is that you know pretty quickly if someone is close to right. If the conversation is easy, enthusiastic, and enjoyable and they have a background close to what you need the details can always be taught. I mean, how many skills truly transfer directly from one company to another?

So, my advice is to not think so hard. You know when a candidate is right. And that may mean placing more value on the personal connection than the resume.

Comments

LoveStats said…
I always have interviewees do something in excel. I have interviewed SO MANY "Expert Excel users" who do not know how to do anything other than type numbers in a spreadsheet. Um, that's typing. That's not Excel. It's quite sad.
Unknown said…
I just started a new job about 2 months ago and I think it was one of the best interview process's I've ever had. I'm in the IT field and have had many jobs over the last 10 years or so where all the interviewers do is ask technical questions. I would think you would be able to look at my resume, check the places I've worked and know whether or not I have technical skills or not that will match your company. This interview they didn't ask me one single technical question. They asked about my 15 month old son, about which movies I liked, and what I did on the weekends. Right off the bat they made me think "now this is a place I want to work". And guess what, I got the job and hope this is the one that sticks for years to come.
John Smith said…
I've been also experiencing interviewing a candidates during my previous job. Just try to be yourself and selling yourself is one of the secrets that makes interviewer to be impress of.

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