Interviewing Skills

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Interviewing Skills
DIVISION OF FINANCE

• Recruitment Workforce Planning

HUMAN RESOURCES
06/01/2009
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Interviewing Skills
Recruitment Workforce Planning

• http//employees.tamu.edu
• Phone [phone]
• Email employment_at_tamu.edu

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Interviewing Skills
Interviewing can be an effective tool in
identifying the applicant who best meets the
needs of your position. Asking the right
job-related questions can help you get the right
kinds of information. Here are some general
guidelines on how to conduct an effective
interview.
Click to proceed
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Facilitate Open Discussion
Applicants should do at least 80 of the talking.
How can I put applicants at ease?
Click for answer
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

Try to put applicants at ease at the beginning of
the interview. Make them feel comfortable by
sitting across from them, not behind your desk.
Click to proceed
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

2. Address Candidates by Name
Take time to familiarize yourself with the
applicants names, skills, job history, etc.
Show applicants that you are interested in what
they have to offer to your institution.
Click to proceed
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

2. Address Candidates by Name
3. Make sure you have a Diverse Interview Team
If you are using an interview team, make sure the
team is diverse in gender, race, and work duties.
Your team should be available for all the
scheduled interviews.
Click to proceed
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

2. Address Candidates by Name
3. Make sure you have a Diverse Interview Team
4. Use your prepared Interview Questions
The same questions should be asked of all
applicants. Write your questions and expected
answers ahead of time. Each member of your
interview team should be familiar with the
questions and anticipated answers. All questions
should be job-related and non-discriminating.
Let applicants know you will be taking notes
during their interview.
Click to proceed
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

2. Address Candidates by Name
3. Make sure you have a Diverse Interview Team
4. Use your prepared Interview Questions
5. Invite Questions from Applicants at the end
Allow applicants to ask questions about the
position and institution. If they ask about the
duties of the position, give a realistic answer.
Introduce applicants to the office and its staff.
This is your opportunity to show that your
office is a great place to work.
Click to proceed
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Set the Stage

• Put Applicants at Ease

2. Address Candidates by Name
3. Make sure you have a Diverse Interview Team
4. Use your prepared Interview Questions
5. Invite Questions from Applicants at the end
Remember, applicants should be doing 80 of the
talking, and the interviewer(s) should be doing
20 of the talking.
Click to proceed
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Develop Job-Related Questions
What type of questions should I ask during an
interview?
Click for answer
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Job-Related Questions

• Questions based on Job Duties

Review the Position Description when preparing
the interview questions. Questions should cover
the minimum and preferred requirements for the
position. Ask questions about the technical and
personal skills necessary to fulfill the duties
of the position.
Click to proceed
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Job-Related Questions

• Questions based on Job Duties

2. Open-ended Questions
Try to ask questions that will facilitate
job-related discussion. Avoid questions that
require a yes or no answer. Keep the
questions open-ended so that applicants have the
opportunity to speak freely and voice opinions.
Click to proceed
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Job-Related Questions

• Questions based on Job Duties

2. Open-ended Questions
3. Past-performance Questions
Ask questions about job-related situations the
applicant may have experienced in the past.
There is no better indication on how applicants
will perform in the future than how they
performed in the past. Question applicants about
both positive and negative work situations, and
how they handled each. Include questions about
cooperation with co-workers, dealing with change,
and taking directions.
Click to proceed
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Job-Related Questions

• Questions based on Job Duties

2. Open-ended Questions
3. Past-performance Questions
4. Legal Questions
Avoid questions that may have a discriminatory
effect by screening out minority applicants,
female candidates, older applicants, individuals
with a disability, etc. Do not ask questions
about applicants race, gender, marital status,
sexual orientation, religion, economic
background, nationality, age or disabilities.
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
How many children do you have, and who is going
to baby-sit?
Acceptable Question This job requires that
you consistently be available to work 800
a.m. until 500 p.m. Will that be a problem?

!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
Do you have a car?
Acceptable Question This job requires that
you consistently be available to work 800 a.m.
until 500 p.m. Will that be a problem?
!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
What is your maiden name or the names of your
relatives?
Acceptable Question In the jobs you have listed
on your application, did you ever work under a
different last name?
!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
List all clubs, societies and lodges to which you
belong.
Acceptable Question List all relevant
professional organizations in which you
previously or currently participate?

!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
What is your maiden name or the names of your
relatives?
Acceptable Question In the jobs you
have listed on your application,
did you work under a different name?

!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
Have you ever been arrested?
Acceptable Question Have you ever
been convicted of a crime?
!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
Do you have any previous back injuries?
Acceptable Question This position
will require occasional lifting of
heavy bags of mail. Will that
be a problem?
!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
What type of discharge did you receive from the
military?
Acceptable Question What type of
education, training, and work experience
did you receive while in the
military?
!
Click to proceed
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Unacceptable Question
List all clubs, societies and lodges to which you
belong.
Acceptable Question List all relevant
professional organizations in which you
previously or currently participate?

!
Click to proceed
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Other Unacceptable Questions
When did you graduate from high school?
Do you intend to get married soon?
Do you own your own home, or do you rent?
Have you ever filed for workers compensation?
What other languages do you know? (illegal unless
job-related)
Is you vision correctable to 20/20?
Click to proceed
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Interviewing Questions
For a list of additional legal and illegal
questions, read Job Interview Questions Dos
Don'ts at http//employees.tamu.edu/docs/employm
ent/hiring/411InterviewQues.pdf online. The
Recruitment Workforce Planning Office welcomes
any questions you might have when preparing your
interview.
Recruitment Workforce Planning

• http//employees.tamu.edu
• Phone [phone]
• Email employment_at_tamu.edu