Job applicants waiting for interview

Job matching, a combination of a behavioral interview combined with appropriate behavioral, personality, and ability testing increases the odds of hiring success to a whopping 87 percent. In terms of dollars invested in hiring the right employee, job matching saves more than 40 percent compared to the interview. For every $10,000 the cost to hire using job matching is under $12,000. (Remember the cost to hire using the interview alone was over $19,000.)

Now first things first. Let’s start by improving the interview.

By using the following five interview steps, you will start putting the odds in your favor at getting what you need to know about a candidate at the interview.

1. Ask only interview questions that are job related. Identify a maximum of three to five non-negotiable competencies or skills the candidate must have to perform the job.

2. For each competency or skill, write three or four behavioral interview questions for each skill or competency. Additional competencies may be added and asked only if the candidate satisfactorily responds to these “non-negotiable skill” questions.

3. Use open-ended questions whenever possible. Examples:

a. Describe for me…..

b. How would you….

c. Why did…….

d. Offer another example…..

e. If you had to …..

4. During the interview, limit your talking to no more than 20 percent of the interview time. Eighty percent of the time should be spent observing and listening. The purpose of the interview is to explore the fit of the candidate to the job, team and company culture. Selling the candidate on your company (assuming you want him/her) comes at follow-up interviews or just before the job offer.

5. Allow time for candidates to ask questions. Listen to the questions that are asked. Do they indicate the candidate has researched the company and understands the job or is the candidate focused on salary and benefits and vacation days?

Observe if the candidate appears confident or reluctant in asking the question. Having no questions to ask can also be a red flag indicating lack of interest, low curiosity, or lack of preparedness.