What are 10 essential interviewing skills?

How to conduct job interviews? There are a few basic ground rules.

What are 10 essential interviewing skills?

1. Establish facts and make quality judgments for recruitment, accident investigation or market research interviews

• Prepare logistics – suitable time and place
• All documents (selection criteria, research questions)
• Source and confirm interviewees

2. Determine structure and questions

• Open vs closed
• Inappropriate questions (leading, multifaceted, rambling, self-answered)
• Compliance with relevant legislation
• Behavioural questions

3. Build rapport

• Body language
• Greeting
• Small talk (caution in recruitment)

4. Outline structure and process

• Explain structure, purpose and expected length
• Time for interviewee’s own questions
• Gain agreement to proceed

5. Encourage participation

• Use of silence – give the person space, time to think
• 80/20 rule – let them do the talking

6. Establish facts

• Seek specifics
• Explore inconsistencies
• Discreet note-taking

7. Control the interview

• Time management – cover all questions
• Manage sidetracks
• Ensure all goals are met

8. Active listening

• Summarise and “play back”
• Helps check your comprehension
• Helps keep the interview on track, on time

9. Make judgements

• Suspend first impressions
• Use all the interview information
• Avoid personal bias
• Gather additional information

10. Wrap up

• Explain what will happen next (keep promises)
• Offer feedback
• Thank person

Eve Ash is a psychologist and managing director of Seven Dimensions, and co- producer with Peter Quarry of the Ash.Quarry Productions best seller 10 Essential Interviewing Skills (From the Take Away Training series) www.7dimensions.com.au

Watch the video 10 Essential Interviewing Skills

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