MGT 270
Mr. Snyder
September 1, 2014
Conducting Employment Interviews Within The Workplace
An interview is merely a conversation that is held professionally between the applicant and the spokesperson of the company in which they are applying. People apply for positions within companies when there are positions that are open and they are hiring to fill those slots. An interview is the first step in the hiring process and without a doubt the most important step. It is also one of the most popular ways of choosing candidates to work within a company. Interviews are carried out with a particular goal or intention in mind. The main goal of an interview is to collect background information on the person or persons that are being interviewed in order to determine whether or not they are qualified for the open position. An interview is also a chance for the interviewee to observe, ask questions about the company, and to see if the company will be a good fit for them. When an interview is taking place it is imperative for the interviewer to always keep in mind that their purpose in being the interviewer is to not only transmit but also to obtain pertinent, relevant information. Preparing a list of topics and questions to ask the candidates can be helpful as well as contribute to the interview process going more smoothly for both the interviewer and interviewee. The questions are most helpful if they pertain to the candidates accomplishments, knowledge, and quality of being able to perform within the position that they are applying for. When asking the interviewee questions, try asking only questions that are open ended. You want the interviewee to have to go into detail, to explain the answer to your questions so that they can give you full, meaningful answers. You do not want the candidate to be able to answer any questions with a simple yes or no. The most helpful questions that you can ask would be follow up questions. The reasoning behind asking follow up questions would be that the candidate would be compelled to dig deeply to answer the questions they are given. It would also force them to give up any responses that have been thought of prior to the interview. Allowing the person that you are interviewing to ask you questions as well is also important. It will give them the chance to learn more about the available position, the company, and the interviewer as well. Once all questions have been asked and answered, it will be time to do your best to sell the company and the position that is available. Treating each and every person that an interviewer interviews with compassion and consideration is imperative. You want the candidate to feel comfortable enough to ask any questions that may arise as well as leave the interview wanting the position even more than they did prior to the interview. During an interview it can be very enticing to tell the person that is being interviewed the things you think that they are wanting to hear in order to lure them in. Especially when there are no doubts that the candidate is the perfect fit for the position at hand. But not representing the job or company correctly can easily backfire. In no way, shape, or form do you want to be misleading. Not only is it unethical but it can also be more harmful to your position and the company that being honest and upfront. One of your top priorities should be to always represent the company that you work for in a positive manner. Interviewers or hiring managers, need to build a rapport with the candidate by demonstrating the ability to be objective and reasonable, as well as professional at all times. In order to create a rapport, one needs to know how to interact with others no matter their race, religion, age, or whether they are a man or woman. In building a rapport, being respectful will also help in creating more of a relaxed environment. Setting a relaxed atmosphere could also add to making the interviewee more