When you draw up your job ad, you have a specific idea in mind about the type of employee that you want to hire. Of course, this is usually more flexible than most job seekers may recognize. After all, you have a list of bullet points that you would prefer a prospective employee has. If one employee hits most of the marks and can improve on another, he or she may be a better fit than someone who met all of the qualifications. Personality matters also and you probably understand that as you’re going into the interview process.
Once you get to the interview though, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed or unsure of how to make the right pick. It’s common to hear about potential employee nerves before an interview, but often, it’s the same from the other side too. You have a big decision to make! Here are some tips that can make the whole ordeal a little easier.
Consider Degree Variety
In some instances, you may need a specific degree for the job that you’re posting. For instance, if you work in the medical field or in a mechanical field, you may need someone with a specialized degree. This is not the case for all occupations, however. Allow the potential employee to sell you his or her degree. After all, degrees, particularly in the humanities, can cover a wide variety of subjects and experiences. A person with an MS in business analytics online, for instance, could be a great fit in business analytics for a variety of different companies.
Consider the Path That They Are On
If you look at a person’s resume or cover letter, you may not have a clear idea of their goals, motivations or the path that they are on. When you are in the interview room, however, you have the opportunity to ask important questions and to come up with a general idea of the person’s path. You need to know if the person’s path aligns with your company image. Can you see this person working for your company for a while? Is this a part of their wider career path? You want to make sure that they can clearly outline their path and their plans for the future.
Consider Their Successes
One important question should be about their success. Ask what makes them feel productive or triumphant. In asking questions like this, you can figure out what is important to them. Even the most simple of answers can tell you a lot about a person. For instance, if the person solved a problem at work or resolved tension between colleagues and felt successful after, then you know he or she is probably a team player who values getting along with others. While you don’t want someone who spends their interview gloating, you do want someone who is not shy to talk about success. Confidence is important in the interview process.
Consider Their Strong Points
In line with confidence, you should ask your interviewee what they are good at. Everyone has talents and strengths. Even the most modest of people will have confidence in some areas. Regardless of degree and experience, find out what he or she considers to be personal and professional strengths. This will help you to decide whether you can utilize these strengths. Look for an employee who is passionate about his or her strengths. It helps if he or she not only is confident that he or she can get the job done right, but that he or she loves the job.
Consider Their Love of Learning
There is some truth to the idea that a trainable employee is important to a company. Talent cannot tell you whether or a not a person will be a good pick for your company. Sometimes, it is better to choose someone who wants to learn new things and is willing to have new experiences, rather than a person who may be set in his or her ways. If someone has talent, but believes that he or she already knows everything that he or she needs to know, then it could be a potential disaster. You want someone that you can train and that can grow with the company.
When it comes to choosing an employee, the decisions can be tough. It can sometimes be hard to look through a list of talented people and choose who would be the best fit. These tips, however, can make the process a little easier.
