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A good interviewer...

Have a plan:

• Prepare your interview questions
  • Interviewers who don’t prepare their questions beforehand are missing out on the chance to evaluate candidates effectively.
• Know your candidates
  • When interviewing candidates, it’s best to avoid asking for information they have already provided; you’ll lose valuable time and risk appearing indifferent or unprepared to the candidates’ eyes.
• Be ready to answer questions
  • Remember, interviewers and candidates are evaluating each other during interviews.
• Coordinate with other interviewers
  • If you’re conducting panel interviews, determine who will ask which question and in what order.
• Plan your time and agenda
  • If possible, clear your schedule at least 15 minutes before and after each interview. It’s best not to leave candidates waiting while you finish up a meeting, or having to rush them out if you have a meeting right after the interview.
• Sharpen your selling skills
  • Prepare a checklist to sell your company and the position you’re hiring for. Here’s what you could go over:
    • The main characteristics of your company culture.
    • Any new developments or exciting plans (like new products, new offices etc.)
    • Practices or techniques your company employs to keep employees happy and motivated.
    • Challenges someone who works in the role you’re hiring for may face and how your department supports its employees (e.g. training, mentoring.)

Items to Prepare:

Set Aside enough time: We're all busy these days.  But block off time when you will not be distracted, and the candidate will not feel ignored

Prepare a good space: Reserve a space where you, your interview panel, and your candidate will feel comfortable.  It should be free from distraction, including email, monitors, or busy hallways. 

Prepare interview packets:  The day before interviews are scheduled, interview packets should be prepped with copies of the interview questions and candidates' resumes for every member of the interview panel.  Copies of the Job Description or Job Posting can also be helpful for candidates as well as the interview panel.

Prepare a list:  Know what qualities you are looking for. Knowing your "must-haves" and "nice-to-haves" when it comes to experience or skills can be very helpful.  Also, remember that some things you can handle later with training.

Good Interview Notes:  Having clear, legible notes will help during discussions after interviews are complete.  And as a reminder, all interview notes, even those for candidates who are not selected for a position, must be turned into HR, and may be subject to review.