For us it’s not every day that we get to experience the interview process in terms of employment, which is a good thing. However, anytime there is a change in a company, typically the hiring process must ensue.
Luckily for me, I have a tendency to ask all of my cover stories some tips on hiring. The process intrigues me. How do you ask certain questions to get an interviewee to open up, or release information to make your decision that much easier? There are so many possible ways to ensure that you get the proper candidates. Very quickly, here is our process for hiring:
1) Phone Interview: The phone interview comes after we receive the candidate’s resume and we collectively think the person is capable of the position. We keep the interview short and sweet. We ask about 10 to 15 questions that dive into experience and what they are looking for in a career. Also, we will typically ask why they want to work for Club Solutions Magazine, and where else they are looking?
These questions allow us to discover what the person’s voice is like over the phone, and how much they may, or not be, into our business. It’s crucial for your company that anyone you hire is passionate about working in your field, regardless of the level.
2) In-Person Interview: For the second portion of the interview we bring the person into the Club Solutions Magazine office. We spend a few minutes introducing them to our team and helping them to relax as much as possible. It’s important that they are relaxed before we dive into interview questions. We offer them bottled water or anything they may need to be comfortable.
Once the candidate is comfortable, we show them to their seat at our conference table. This is the same conference table we use weekly to develop new ideas — a place that the new candidate will spend time at on a regular basis if they receive the job. A couple of the current employees will sit down with the candidate and ask questions. Typically, a couple of us will ask a list of questions while another person takes notes and chimes in for follow-up questions the interviewers may have missed.
This ensures that the candidate is comfortable in a group setting, comfortable with our team and can carry on a conversation without losing focus. This system is great for us. It gets our team involved and ensures that the candidate is best for everyone in our office. Considering we have a small office and we work well as a team, it’s imperative that our new hire will be able to work with all of us.
3) Phone Interview Tré: For the third portion of the interview we will hold another phone conversation. This conversation will hold more detailed questions as to what the candidate may do provided they received the position? It’s important that we know how they would prepare to make a move, if they needed, or when they could start. Can they make our start date, or do we need to adjust for their current job or location?
We also want to use this interview to discover if the person is still interested. Some companies will use anywhere between two to six separate interviews. You will know how many interviews your company needs based on the details of the position. After three interviews, do you still feel you need to dive into other parts of the job and qualifications? If so, you need to have another interview with that person.
Remember, if the person finds another job during your interview process, it’s not because they found a better job, it’s that they weren’t what you wanted. The length of individual interviews shows that a person can hold their focus for a certain amount of time. Also, if they still want the position after a few interviews, that means they really wanted the job. A person that is passionate about your field and the job they are applying to will stay in the game for the long haul. Remember, you set the needs and aspirations for the job; it’s then up to the candidate to remain focused and hungry for the position which they applied.
Every position has its needs. Using detailed interviews and asking the best questions will ensure that your company finds the right personnel to fill all open positions.
It’s finally the last week of 2011. I’m enjoying a dry, sunny Wednesday. If you have snow, get out in it, and have a great end to 2011! The New Year is only a few days away. I hope you and your club are ready. Be safe and I’ll see you again in 2012!
Tyler Montgomery is the Editor of Club Solutions Magazine. Contact him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com
