For those of us involved in interviewing skills training, it always comes as a surprise—our program
participants come in with the feeling that it is up to the interviewee to
impress the interviewer. Rarely do they consider that, when you are looking to
hire the best, it should also work in the opposite direction—the interviewer
should be ready to impress the candidate.
The best interviewers prepare
thoroughly and look for the best. They select the candidate who does not just
fit the slot on the org chart but fills a real business need. They look behind
the resume and listen carefully to the answers to their questions. If they are
hiring for sales, they look for the critical few behavioral skills that support
successful selling for their unique sales strategy, organizational culture,
target customer and industry. If they are hiring for frontline customer
service, they look for someone with the right attitude, communication skills
and service competencies that match their specific service strategy.
Know the real business need.
Understand the critical few behavior-based competencies it takes to fill that
need. Then hire someone who demonstrates those skills and fits your culture.
Hire the result, not a position.