Conducting interviews is a huge responsibility handled by the Human Resource team of an organization. Recruiting the right candidate for the position is the main criteria of interviews. To achieve this objective, interviews must be designed perfectly. However, adopting the wrong interview techniques will lead to disastrous results.
- Un-preparedness
As mentioned earlier, interviews must be well planned and executed for the best results. It creates a bad impression of the organization if it displays any signs of un-preparedness. Asking the employee to repeat his resume over and again, forgetting the minor yet important details provided by candidates, inability to clear the doubts raised by applicants etc. are clear signs of lack of planning and preparation.
- Personal Questions
As a thumb rule, personal questions are not to be asked during an interview. Any question that is related to nationality, religion, religious beliefs, race, personal preferences, marital status, ethnicity etc. comes under the personal questions category. A candidate may choose to answer the question asked, however, he/ she reserves the right to file a charge against the company.
- Offensive Remarks
No company can make any comments that offend job seekers. Looking down upon their achievements, demeaning their knowledge, making sardonic statements, criticizing opinions, ridiculing candidates etc. will destroy the company’s reputation in the eyes of candidates.
- Over-usage of Humor
Over usage of humor is bad; hence keep your humor level under check. Humorous comments in small proportions are very much welcome. However, humor used in excess will render the interview useless and will lose its seriousness and purpose.
- Launching Debates
At some point of time, interviewers can introduce debates. However, interviewers must make sure that it does not turn into a full fledged argument. Losing control over discussions, misleading the debate into irrelevant discussion, posing attacking questions to candidates etc. are not preferable.
- Misleading Candidates
Employers are expected to provide accurate details and true information to the candidates. A company has no right to mislead any candidate by providing wrong information regarding the organization, its activities, job profile, salary package, perquisites etc. Likewise, futile promises over appraisals and salary revisions must be avoided.
- Ignoring Candidates
Your job as an interviewer is to listen to the candidates attentively. It is obligatory to pay keen attention to what the candidate has to say. It may make him feel ignored and moreover, bog down his confidence for the rest of the interview.
To avoid such situations, you have to make eye contacts with the candidate from time to time, and ask questions to mark your involvement.
