Recruiting: Top 5 Interview Techniques

by Mauri Schwartz, President/CEO CAREER INSIDERS

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Learn how to

1. Be prepared.2. Make a good first impression.

3. Ask the right questions.4. Know if the candidate is telling the truth.

5. Close the deal.

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Be prepared

1. Be clear about what/who you’re looking for.2. Review the candidate’s resume in advance.

3. Prepare candidate-specific questions.4. Use the time wisely.

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

1. Provide a positive candidate experience.2. Put yourself in their shoes; treat them like a guest.

3. Remember your etiquette; be on time.4. No distractions: don’t bring your phone into the

interview.5. Be totally engaged in the conversation.

6. Give the candidate a heads-up on how you feel.7. Set feedback expectations; don’t keep them waiting.

Make a good first impressionYou are your company’s brand

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

1. Only questions whose answers provide value.2. Do they understand the role?

3. Do they know anything about your company?4. Behavioral questions – tell me about a time when…

5. Situational questions – what would you do if…6. For job-specific questions, ask for details &

examples.7. Ask follow-up questions.

Ask the right questions

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Ask the right questions

1. Why should we hire you? = Tell me about yourself. 2. What are your strengths? What do you do well?

3. What are your weaknesses?4. Why are you leaving your current job?

5. How have you made a difference there?6. When did you take leadership and show initiative.

7. Describe a difficult challenge & how you handled it.8. Do you have any questions for me?

Examples

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Know if the candidate is telling the truth

1. Look for big accomplishments during a short period.

2. Clear up ambiguities.3. Ask follow-up questions.

4. Ask for details and examples.5. Dig deep.

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Is the candidate truthful?Examples

1. Describe the process you went through.2. Since you were on a team, what aspects did you do?

3. What were the results of your actions?4. When you produced the analysis, did you actually

perform the analytical work & package it for reporting?

5. Did you present to a large audience or small group? 6. Who were the attendees? Executives? Customers?

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Close the deal

1. Avoid last minute surprises, assess the competition.2. Make an offer your candidate will accept.

3. Watch out for counter offers.

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

1. At the beginning.

2. Every conversation.3. Just before you make the offer.

4. Until they accept…or firmly reject.5. Until they start work.

Avoid last minute surprisesWhen do you close?

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Avoid last minute surprisesAssess the competition1. Ask a lot of questions.

2. Start selling from day one.3. Respond to concerns & misconceptions.

4. Counter but don’t trash the competition.5. You represent your company’s brand.

LI Pulse Post: bit.ly/2budd0F

Assess the competitionExamples1. Are you likely to get a counter offer from your

current employer?2. Please tell me about your search activity.

3. Are you looking at other opportunities?4. Where are you in the interview process?

5. Please describe the position(s).6. How would you compare their job to ours?

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Assess the competitionExamples6. Is there anything about our job that causes concern?

7. Is there anything about their job that causes concern?

8. What compensation are they offering you?9. At this point, which way are you leaning?

10.If you were to receive identical offers today from us and them, which would you choose?

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Make an acceptable offerAsk for details about current compensation

1. Base salary + date of previous increase.2. Variable / incentive pay / bonus.

3. Sign-on bonus.4. 401K / retirement contributions.

5. Stock plan.6. Relocation reimbursement.

7. Insurance coverage.8. Other cash payments – tuition, gym,

discounts.

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Watch out for counter offers1. Ask early.

2. Remind them of why they wanted to leave.3. Remind them of what they like about your job.

4. Remind them of the downsides of accepting. Tarnished brand

Career barrier Unresolved issues

5. Don’t drop your guard after offer acceptance.

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THANKS FOR LISTENING AND HAPPY HUNTING!

by Mauri Schwartz, President/CEO CAREER INSIDERS

Copyright © 2001-2016 by Mauri Schwartz. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

LI Pulse & Web Site PostsCandidate Interview Guide bit.ly/2bgOVYj

Competition bit.ly/2budd0FCompensation bit.ly/2bagDm7 Counter Offer bit.ly/2bvo1xN