Question:

"I’m hiring. How can I be certain the person who seems like a perfect fit during the interview will actually be good at the job?"

Answer:

Hiring a new employee can be a daunting task to even the most seasoned managers or human resources professionals. Making a selection after one or two short meetings can be difficult, knowing that if the wrong choice is made, it will cost an organization time and money.

Some managers might say, “Trust your gut.” While trusting your instincts has its place, there are more effective ways to ensure the candidate can do the job well.

First, ensure you get the most out of the interview. To do so, understand the role; learn the job description, key performance indicators, attributes, skills and abilities required to do the job successfully. When you understand the role, you have greater insight into the candidate’s responses, which empowers you to probe more effectively.

Second, tailor your interview. It is important to move away from the canned questions – ask the ones that really count. Develop role-specific behavioural questions to gain insight into how candidates will apply their experience and knowledge to the role, and how they will actually do the job.

Third, assess the candidates. Develop or purchase competency-based assessments to evaluate the practical application of their skills. In doing so, you can measure the candidates’ ability to do role-specific tasks.

To receive a variety of sample interview questions and ensure your interviewing process is a success, access TPD's FREE Interview Guidebook below!

Rikka Vassal, CHRP, HR Manager

This piece was originally published in Business in Vancouver.