Conducting the Interview

There are distinct parts to an interview, and each of them is important. To make sure that you cover all the bases in your interview, use this outline as a guide:

• Establish rapport. Greet the applicant with a pleasant smile, firm handshake, and a casual statement or two. Outline the interview objectives and structure. For example, say "In the time we have, I would like to..."
• Gather information. Verify specific information from the resume. Be certain to use open-ended questions (how, what, when, etc.), and always follow up a yes or no answer with an open-ended question.
• Give information about your business and even "sell" the position. Be sure to do this after you've let the applicants answer your interview questions. If you tell the applicants exactly what you're looking for first, they can adapt their answers to fit what they perceive as your needs.
• Close the interview. Thank the candidate for his or her attention and interest. Indicate what the next step will be and the time frame within which it will occur.
• Evaluate your notes and compare candidates. Complete an evaluation form or firm up your notes, noting specific information about the candidate wherever possible. Rate the candidate. This is crucial. You may not trust your memory to recall the detail of the interview at a later point in time.

Warning Don't make any notes about the applicant that could be discriminatory. For example, a white male applicant for a receptionist job comes to the interview in a coat and tie. A black female shows up in torn jeans and a T-shirt. It is legally defensible not to hire the black female because of her clothing choice. But the reason for rejecting that particular applicant should factually describe that "the applicant appeared for the interview in torn jeans and a T-shirt." The documentation should not be an open-ended statement that the black female was rejected because she "did not have the proper appearance." That statement could easily be interpreted to mean that she was rejected due to race or sex.

What to keep in mind during the interview. In conducting the interview, the most important things to keep in mind are:

• your role as the interviewer
• which questions to ask and how to ask them
• which questions not to ask