We've all heard of the dos and donts of job interviews. What to say, what not to say or what to wear, and what not to wear. What about the person actually doing the interview? Often times it's assumed that the person conducting the interview has it all together and isn't the least bit stressed with the thought of an interview. For those first-time employers or for those who simply want to better themselves when it comes to interviewing potential employees, take a look at the 5 tips below:

 

1. Ask Open-ended Questions

Closed questions demand that there be no explanation-just "yes" or "no"-and frankly, there isn't much you will learn about a person this way. Open-ended questions can begin with words such as How, what, Why, Describe, Tell me, Explain and When. Here are just a few examples:

  * How will you be able to contribute to this company?

  * What are your long-term goals?

  * Why should we hire you?

  * Describe a situation in which you might find it justifiable to break a company policy or alter standard procedure.

  * Tell me about a time when you made a quick decision that you were proud of.

  * Explain a time when a good boss motivated you.

Remember, you want as much information as possible, so leave room for the candidate to provide the details.

2. Avoid illegal questions

There are a few topics to steer clear from, which mainly fall under the" illegal questions" category. Some topics to avoid include:

* Marital Status

* Arrest records

* Religion

* Age

* Disabilities

* Worker's compensation claims

In other words, if it doesn't relate to the job, then you, the interviewer, shouldn't ask.

3. Prepare a plan sheet

It's a great idea to create an interview "plan sheet" that lists all the information that you want to tell your candidate(s). This is also important if there will be more than one person conducting the interview. If this is the case, provide each interviewer with a copy of the plan sheet; this will ensure that they know why they are interviewing the candidate. At the conclusion of the interview, you should make it a point to meet with them and review their notes.

4. LISTEN!

Listening is key; not just for the employee, but for the employer as well! Follow the 70/30 rule, which is the interviewer should listen 70% of the time during the interview and only talk 30% of the time. The interview isn't an interrogation session; it should be conversational. You don't want to formulate your next question while halfheartedly listening. REALLY listen to what he/she is saying and take notes if you need to.

If you notice the interviewee straying into other subjects, it is your job to redirect the topic. You may do so by saying this for example: "Before we move on, I would like to find out about..."

5. Check References

Regardless if an interview went perfectly or a little less than perfect, it is very important to check references. This is one way to get good, solid information about the applicant. The interviewer should evaluate negative references fairly, because a negative response from one individual does not necessarily mean the candidate is unqualified. However, this goes vice-versa as well: one positive evaluation does not mean the candidate is qualified. As the interviewer, you need to check more than one reference. The same way that a candidate will research the company/employer, is the same way that you should research your candidates.

With these tips in mind, it will allow you to feel like a more confident interviewer and you (and your candidate as well) will certainly to feel more at ease.