Have you ever been extremely nervous about conducting a job interview? Didn’t know what you were going to say or what you were going to ask? It is expected that job candidates will have some jitters before an interview, but the role of the interviewer can also be a daunting task. How can you, as the interviewer, make the most of the interview and get the information you need to make an informed decision?

Interviewing dos

Since interviewing is not likely to go anywhere anytime soon, below are some useful tips for credit unions to help ease as many of those worries as possible. It is crucial to see that scheduled interview time as an opportunity to educate the candidate about the company, the culture, and the company’s mission and vision. Here are some helpful tips that I have found to be useful as a recruiter.

• Respect the candidate’s time: Everyone is busy, but you should also be mindful of the candidate’s time. If you know that you are going to be late for an interview you should have someone else plan to attend as a backup. During the interview, the candidate is usually feeling a mix of emotions. It is important to put all the distractions away. You should not be responding to an email, responding to a text message, or taking another call. The candidate is giving you their time and you should give them your undivided attention as well.
• Embrace cultural differences: With the current and up-and-coming generations, this is something that everyone should be conscious of. According to Forbes, “Cultural etiquette should never be ignored during hiring, especially when interviewing for global teams because different cultures can inform interviewing styles and nuances that may impact the overall hiring process.” Cultural differences are something that should not go unnoticed today.
• Prepare Questions: Going into the interview, it is essential to have questions prepared. Try to avoid “Yes” or “No” questions. Instead, consider asking the candidate open-ended questions. If you ask the candidate more open-ended questions this can lead to having more dialogue throughout the interview. It also gives you an opportunity to see how the candidate can think on their feet.

Interviewing don’ts

Besides the obvious legal no-no’s of asking questions regarding the candidate’s race, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, religion, marital status/number of children, etc., I have found some other pointers that the interviewer should take into consideration while conducting the interview.

• Do not take over the conversation: Have the conversation with the candidate, but don’t take over the entire interview. Over-talking during the interview can deter the candidate from this potential position. Take this interview as time to learn and get to know the candidate better.
• Do not make promises: No matter how much you like a specific candidate you are speaking with, it is important not to make any promises. You always have the potential that someone could interview better. Forbes notes that the “recruitment process may always change—you might speak to a better candidate, the role may close due to budgeting reasons, etc.” You should never make a promise to a candidate because if you provide them with misinformation this could change their view of the company.
• Do not show shock or anger if a question is missed: During the interview process, the candidate is usually taking in a lot of information and potentially interviewing with other companies. Sometimes you may ask a question and the candidate may divulge something else or go in a different direction. This could be that the candidate doesn’t know how to answer that specific question. Do not get upset if the candidate does not give the answer that you were specifically looking for.

Interviews are the make or break

Knowing what you are looking for can be half the battle. So go into your interviews prepared and ready to listen. If you are ever unsure if a question is appropriate to ask or not, it is very important to check with your Human Resources team prior to conducting the interview. Keep these tips in mind and you’re sure to find a perfect candidate soon!