There’s no shortage of stories of gaffes people make when trying to land a job. What about the folks on the other side of the desk?
You know how important it is to find just the right fit for Finance. Recruiting’s a time-consuming — not to mention expensive — process. You’d rather not do it longer than you need to.
But beware: Some innocent and common interviewing practices can end up giving you the wrong read.
Here are some of the most common interviewer blunders and what you and other hiring supervisors may want to try instead:
Interviewer Mistake No. 1: Talking too much.
Yes, you need to give the person an idea of what the job entails. But some interviewers spend more time talking than they do listening. You won’t come away with a clear picture of the person’s qualifications.
Interviewer Mistake No. 2: Offering too much background.
These days, you have to assume this candidate has Googled your company. Instead of offering an introduction to what your company’s all about, ask what impression that person has of your company and what other questions he or she may have. It lets you know whether they’ve done their homework.
Interviewer Mistake No. 3: Focusing on the wrong things.
Don’t spend a lot of time talking about days off, benefits packages, etc. No. 1, that’s HR’s job and No. 2, you’re probably putting the cart before the horse. You’re interviewing this person for the fit within your finance department. If the candidate’s too focused on the peripherals, it may be a red flag.
Interviewer Mistake #4: Trying to “stump” the candidate.
It’s an interview, not a firing squad. Yes, you may want to see how the person can handle the tough questions. But lobbing several that are too tough to answer will rock the person’s confidence and may even dissuade them from wanting to work for you.
Interviewer Mistake #5: Putting words in their mouth.
In an attempt to sound like a good listener or when you have a particularly quiet candidate, the urge may be to paraphrase what you think you’re hearing. Resist that urge. That person may simply “yes” you because he or she thinks that what you want to hear. You’d be better off asking for some clarification or if the individual can give you an example to better understand where they’re coming from.
