Introduction
Eventually - at some point in your career - you're probably going to have to interview someone. If you've never done this before, then the prospect can be daunting. In fact, there are some simple rules you can learn that will enable you to ask effective interview questions - every time. This article outlines some simple rules for people who want some basic interviewing tips.
Prepare for Your Interview
You need to get to know your interviewee as well as possible before the session. Researching for an interview will enable you to focus your questioning, rather than leaving the outcome to chance. Obtain a copy of the candidate's CV beforehand and find out if they have a website, Linked in or Facebook profile, et al. This will enable you to identify key achievements, highlight any ambiguities, and develop a structured interview plan.
Choosing an Interview Location
Try to find out where the interview is being held. If it's at the client's/sub-contractor's office then you'll most likely have access to a power supply. Else, if it's somewhere informal - at a coffee bar or restaurant, for example - access to such a facility may be restricted. This might sound like an obvious point, but its small mistakes that often trip up inexperienced interviewers. If in doubt, take along a hard-copy of the interview questionnaire. Don't rely on your laptop.
Choosing the Right Interview Questions
Not everyone knows how to choose effective interview questions. In fact, this part of the process is more important than anything - because questioning is a powerful interviewing technique in itself. The trick is to keep your enquiries short, open-ended and focused. This will enable the recipient to elaborate, but within a defined context. 'I see you worked as an engineer. What was that like?' is an example of a poor interview question. What aspect of their working experience should they discuss here? 'I see you worked for ABC engineering as Project Director. What were your main responsibilities?' is better. This question also functions as an instruction that tells the interviewee what information you need.