You may think that job interviews are just formal, monologue-like conversations! They are often the most important part of a hiring decision because they give you an insight into how candidates will behave in their new role and how well they’ll fit in with your company culture. This is why it’s important to make the most of job interviews and use a conversational approach.
Most candidates expect a formal and scripted interview. They are often surprised (and even delighted) when the interviewer takes a more relaxed, conversational approach. By doing so, you can learn a lot more about the candidate and assess their suitability for the role.
In this article, we will explore how you can use a conversational job interview approach to get the most out of candidates. We will also explore the advantages of using this approach and how to make the most of it.
How to use a conversational job interview approach?
There are a few things you can do to make the most of a conversational job interview approach:
1. Relax and be yourself
When you relax and let your true personality show, candidates will feel more relaxed and comfortable. This will help them to open up and share more information with you. It will not only help you to get to know them better, but it will also help you to see how they’ll behave in their new role.
2. Ask open-ended questions
Open-ended questions allow candidates to share more information with you. This is because they can answer these questions in a variety of ways. Closed questions usually require yes or no answers, which doesn’t give you much information. This can help you to get to know the candidate better and see how they think.
3. Show your interest
When you show your interest in the candidate, they will feel more engaged and invested in the interview. It will boost their confidence and make them more likely to share information with you. As you listen to them, make sure to take notes so that you can remember their responses.
4. Encourage the candidate to talk about themselves
When candidates talk about themselves, they are usually more engaged and excited. This is because they are sharing information about themselves, which is something that they are passionate about. Sharing personal experiences will help you get an idea of the candidate’s personality and how they will fit in with your company culture.
5. Give them situations to talk about
When you ask candidates to talk about how they would handle certain situations, you are testing their problem-solving skills. This is a great way to assess their suitability for the role. By listening carefully to their responses, you can get an idea of how well they would handle difficult situations in the workplace.
6. Make a good impression
The way you conduct the interview will leave a lasting impression on the candidate. Make sure that you are professional and respectful at all times. This will help the candidate to feel more positive about the company and may even influence their decision to accept the job offer.
Why use a conversational job interview approach?
There are several advantages of using a conversational job interview approach:
1. It’s more relaxed and informal
A conversational job interview is more relaxed and informal than a formal interview. This can help candidates to feel more comfortable and open up more. As a result, you will learn more about them and their suitability for the role.
2. It helps candidates to feel engaged
When you use a conversational job interview approach, candidates will feel more engaged and interested in the interview. This can help them to share more information with you and see how they would fit in with your company culture.
3. Helps you understand the candidate better
By using a conversational job interview approach, you will be able to understand the candidate better. This is because they will be more likely to share information with you. You will also be able to see how they think and how they would handle difficult situations in the workplace.
4. It allows the candidate to assess you too
The candidate will also be assessing you during the interview. They will be looking at how you behave and how you treat them. This can help them to decide if they want to work for your company. In addition, the candidate may also be assessing your company culture and how they would fit in.
5. It leaves a positive impression on the candidate
The way you conduct the interview will leave a positive impression on the candidate. This can help to increase the chances of them accepting the job offer. Even if they don’t get selected for the role, they may still be interested in working for your company in the future.
6. Less stressful
A conversational job interview is less stressful than a formal interview. This can help candidates to relax and feel more comfortable. As a result, they will be willing to open up and share more information with you. It will help you to get a better idea of their suitability for the role.
Top three tips for a successful conversational job interview
1. Prepare well: Make sure that you prepare well for the interview. This will help you to feel more confident and relaxed during the conversation. In addition, it will help you to ask the right questions and get the most out of the conversation.
2. Be respectful: Be respectful to the candidate at all times. You don’t want to put a bad impression on yourself and your company. This will not only discourage the candidate from accepting the job offer but ruin your company’s reputation.
3. Listen carefully: Make sure that you listen carefully to the candidate’s responses. This will help you to understand them better and see how they would fit in with your company culture. In addition, you may be able to get some great ideas for the role from their responses.
Conclusion
Conversational job interviews are becoming increasingly popular among employers. It is also less stressful for candidates and allows you to assess them too. To ensure a successful conversation, make sure that you prepare well and be respectful to the candidate. Listen carefully to their responses and you may learn some valuable information about them.
