10 essential interview tips for HR professionals

Conducting effective interviews is a skill, one that you can hone throughout your career. And there is more to an interview than simply sitting across from your prospective candidate, either in person or on screen.

On average, a job interview will last 45 minutes to 1 hour and have two or three stages where your candidate will meet different members of the team to assess their skills.

We find that the hiring process takes on average 35 days, from advert to offer, and you can expect 17 applications per role.

So how do you make the most of the experience for both you and the candidate, and save you time in the hiring process?

Here are our top 10 tips for interviewing effectively.

1. Prepare by reviewing the candidate’s resume and cover letter before the interview.
2. Create a comfortable environment where the candidate will feel relaxed.
3. Ask open-ended questions, allowing candidates to give detailed responses.
4. Have a diverse hiring panel to mitigate unconscious bias.
5. Use behavioural questions to ask candidates how they would describe and handle previous experiences.
6. Asses their cultural fit with your existing team and how they align with your company’s values.
7. Check for consistency with the candidate’s answers and their skills on their CV.
8. Allow time for candidate questions throughout the interview.
9. Provide feedback to candidates, either direct or via your recruitment partner.
10. Trust your instincts! If someone is missing a few of the qualities you were looking for, but they feel like the right fit for your business, they could be just what you need.

If you need support finding quality candidates for your upcoming roles, please don’t hesitate to reach out via charlotte@cathedralappointments.co.uk