INTERVIEWING CHECKLIST

 

Lee Colan, president of the business-leadership consultancy The L Group and a widely published author and lecturer, lists the critical steps needed for conducting successful interviews.

 

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Validate need for position
• Write detailed position specs: knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Identify the critical success factors (CSFs)
• Share position specs with all interviewers
• Develop specific questions
• Prepare follow-up questions
• Use same questions for all candidates
• Check questions for legality
• Identify appropriate recruitment strategy
• Sort resumes (A, B, and C lists)
• Schedule interviews (3x3x3 rule)

 

DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Reserve private space
• Eliminate interruptions
• Make candidate comfortable: offer a drink; take coat; make generic small talk
• Position, timing, process and your note-taking
• Ask your questions (talk 20%; listen 80%)
• Probe, observe, take notes (not on the resume)
• Provide overview of position
• Allow the candidate to ask questions
• Assess the candidate’s interest
• Preview the remainder of process (who, what, and when)
• Express thanks

 

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Evaluate candidates based on CSFs
• Proceed with final candidate
• Call/write “thank you” to others
• Provide feedback to source of candidates, if applicable