As an employer or recruiter, conducting job interviews is a critical component of your hiring process. Active listening plays an essential role in ensuring that the interview process is productive and informative. Here are some tips for using active listening when conducting a job interview.
What Is Active Listening?
Active listening is a communication technique that involves fully focusing on and understanding the speaker’s message, both verbally and nonverbally.
As the name suggests, active listening sees listening not as a passive activity, but as an active one. It requires paying attention to the speaker’s tone of voice, body language, and emotions, as well as providing feedback and asking clarifying questions to ensure mutual understanding.
The main goal of active listening is to create a respectful space for effective communication and problem-solving.
Although active listening can be used in any kind of interpersonal exchange, it’s a particularly useful tool for recruiters and HR professionals.
How to Use Active Listening When Conducting a Job Interview
Give Your Undivided Attention
Active listening requires focused attention. When conducting a job interview, ensure that you are in a quiet room with no distractions and put away any devices that may distract you.
Look directly at the candidate, maintain eye contact and pay attention to their verbal and non-verbal cues.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Open-ended questions encourage candidates to provide detailed responses, offering more insights into their experiences and qualifications.
These questions prompt the candidate to provide specific examples that demonstrate their capabilities and suitability for the job. Examples of open-ended questions include, “Tell me about a time you handled a complex project?” or “How would you approach a difficult challenge?”
Paraphrase and Probe
When candidates respond to your questions, try to use their words to paraphrase the response and show that you understand them. This demonstrates that you are actively listening and comprehension-oriented. Also, don’ forget to ask follow-up questions that probe and clarify specific points.
Take Notes
Taking notes helps you remember and document the important points raised by the candidates.
Jot down notes about their experience, qualifications, and suitability for the job. This is useful when making hiring decisions or when sharing the information with other stakeholders involved in the recruitment process.
Demonstrate Sincere Interest
The manner in which you conduct the interview and engage with the candidate can set the tone, and signal to the candidate that you are genuinely interested in them.
During the interview, demonstrate a sincere interest in what the candidate is saying and ask questions when you want to clarify a point.
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