10 Tips To Conduct An Effective Small Business Job Interview

Posted by Karen Erdelac on Jul 31, 2017

10 Tips To Conduct An Effective Small Business Job InterviewHiring the right employees is an essential part of creating and maintaining a successful small business. A hiring mistake not only costs money, it can do irreversible damage to your company’s reputation. A large portion of how your business is viewed is largely contingent on your staff. This makes the interview process and getting it right the first time extremely important. Here we’ve outlined 10 tips to help you build an effective staff.

1. Profile Your Ideal Candidate

The first step in filling a position is to map out the ideal person to fill that role. Things like education, previous experience and required skills are a good start but there are other details that should be considered. Organization, people skills and other personality traits should also be taken into account.

2. Do Your Research

Prior to bringing in an applicant for an interview it’s essential that you become familiar with their background and fact check all of the important aspects of their resume. Many people embellish their resumes and this can lead to hiring incompetent and unprepared employees.

3. Involve Your Team

When determining an ideal candidate it’s important to get input from those that will be working closely with them. There are sure to be small details that only those that work in those roles would be able to identify as key attributes. You may also include members of your team during the interview process to get a second opinion on your candidate’s qualifications.

4. Cut The Tension

Many people get anxiety during an interview and this can skew your perception of them. The first thing you should do when you bring a candidate in is to get them to relax. Be personal with them and strike up a non-work related conversation. Jokes and explaining previous experiences are also a great way to take the stress out of your interview.

5. Explain The Process

Another way to get your candidate to relax is to explain exactly how the interview will be conducted. Be upfront about the types of questions that will be asked as well as any paperwork or disclosures that will be required.

6. Give A Detailed Job Description

Let your potential employee know exactly what will be required of them should they be added to your team. Ask about prior experience with your job requirements and pay close attention to how they react to them. Body language can be very telling during the interview process. Are they confident in their abilities?

7. Be Conversational

10 Tips To Conduct An Effective Small Business Job InterviewYou want to ensure that your interview is conversational and does not come across as an interrogation. This will ensure your candidate remains calm and is able to give thoughtful answers. It will also prevent you from scaring away top talent.

8. Encourage Questions

Not only do you want to ensure that your candidate is right for the job, you want to make sure the job is right for them. Take time between questions to allow them to ask any follow-ups or for clarity on your questions. This will help you to keep the process conversational and encourage them to open up about themselves.

9. Evaluate Behaviors

Body language can tell you a lot about your candidate’s responses. It’s natural for someone to be nervous but there are other signs you can look for when conducting an interview. Behavioral questionnaires can be effective but it’s important to make your questions clear and not use these as your only means of evaluating your candidate.

10. Follow Up

Additional interviews may be needed to ensure you hire the right person. If they are well qualified there’s a good chance they have other job offers. Timely follow-ups will ensure you don’t lose someone that could be a perfect fit for your company. It’s equally important for your company’s reputation that you let those that didn’t make the cut know they are no longer in the running.

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Topics: Small Business