Ten ways to ease candidates through the interview process

Making interview candidates comfortable is a win-win for both you and the candidate. It’s natural for an interviewee to have nerves when it comes to an interview, especially if they really, REALLY want the job—there’s a lot riding on their performance! And you can benefit from a more relaxed candidate because you’ll get a better idea of what they’re normally like, making your interview that much more efficient.

Ten Ways to Ease Candidates Through the Interview Process

You can make your interviews go smoothly (and calm candidates’ nerves). Just follow these tips from one of the top staffing agencies in Tucker GA—Snelling Georgia Group:

  1. Reach out to them before hand to introduce yourself. A day or so before the interview, email the candidate to say hello. Let them know you’re eager to meet them and learn more about them.
  2. Choose a comfortable location. Bright, harsh lighting and uncomfortable seating can feel a bit like an inquisition. Choose soft, comfortable and relaxing surroundings to help put your candidates at ease.
  3. Be on time. It’s not OK to be late. Leaving a candidate waiting sends the signal that you don’t care.
  4. Start with small talk. This is one of the easiest ways to get a candidate to loosen up. Talk about the weather, a big sports win or even the movie you saw last night. Try to establish common ground.
  5. Offer them something to drink. A glass of water or soda may be welcome relief to a candidate who’s extremely nervous.
  6. Smile and keep it light. This isn’t life or death—it’s an interview. There’s no need to be stern, so remember to smile. Just treat it like a conversation. Infuse humor if you like, and if the moment calls for it.
  7. Describe the position. A great way to ease into an interview is by taking the lead. Talk about the position, what it entails and what you’re looking for. This way, you and the candidate will be on the same page from the very beginning.
  8. Ask reasonable questions. Yes, it might be interesting to know what they’d want with them if stranded on a desert island. But it’s much more efficient to ask questions that pertain directly to the job. Mostly, you’ll want to learn about their job skills and experience, preferred work setting, soft skills and future goals.
  9. Allow for follow up. Sometimes candidates blank on a question during the interview, but afterwards the perfect answer pops into their head. When this happens, they’ll often email you their follow-up thoughts. Allow for this by providing your contact information at the end of the interview.
  10. Say when you’ll follow up and stick to your word. There’s nothing more frustrating for a candidate than preparing for an interview and not knowing what the outcome is. Always follow up to let a candidate know whether or not they have the job.

Ready to Start Interviewing?

If you’re looking for top talent in the Atlanta, GA area, contact Snelling Georgia Group! We’ll work with you to find highly qualified employees who match well with your business—just reach out today to speak with an experienced recruiter!

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