Hiring is no easy task. The process is riddled with challenges that may cause you to overlook skilled candidates. With that in mind, today we take a look at the four most common interview mistakes hiring managers should avoid.
Not Being Aware of Their Bias
Unconscious biases are one of the most difficult hurdles to clear when it comes to hiring.
For example, some hiring managers are so dazzled by certain academic or professional accomplishments that they become willing to ignore some obvious red flags. In other cases, they may feel inclined to hire candidates whose backgrounds are similar to theirs.
Luckily, there are some easy steps companies can take to reduce bias. A standardized hiring process helps level the playing field for all candidates, while background screening promotes hiring decisions backed by facts rather than personal preferences.
Talking Too Much
A hiring manager may feel the need to talk too much for a variety of reasons. Maybe they are truly proud of their organization and want to showcase its value. Or perhaps they want to make sure they are driving an important point home.
No matter how good their intentions are, hiring managers should keep a simple rule in mind: the interview is about the candidate, not the interviewer.
Let the applicant drive the conversation and focus on listening instead of talking. Take notes and ask brief, clear follow-up questions as needed.
Avoiding Tough Questions
At the end of the day, a job interview is a human interaction that can be influenced by all types of human emotions.
It’s not uncommon for some hiring managers to avoid tough questions when a candidate is shy, nervous, or anxious.
While this is an understandable display of human empathy, you should keep in mind that —much like a journalist— many times the job of a hiring manager is to ask tough questions to get the truth.
If a candidate is apprehensive you can take other steps to put them at ease. For example, you can give them a couple of minutes to gather their thoughts, or offer them a glass of water.
Not Following a Standardized Process
A standardized hiring process elevates the quality of your hires and improves the efficiency of your organization.
Of course, the interview phase is no exception to this rule. Here are some ideas to standardize your interviews:
- Make a list of interview questions.
- Take notes and record interactions.
- Make sure each candidate gets the same amount of time.
- Be sure all stakeholders are on the same page about the responsibilities and requirements for the position.
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Are you a retail company looking for a dependable background screening company? We are located in Riverside, California, and we serve organizations all over the U.S. and abroad.
Contact us today by telephone (844-516-1008), email (sales@plexusglobalinc.com), or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
