How To Conduct Interviews
in the early morning on Monday, the 23rd of April 2007 by Chad
Lots of books, websites, and guides and such on how to conduct interviews. How technical should you get, etc… At the day job we’ve been doing a ton of interviews for contractor positions. Here’s my thoughts on the process…
Me, I go for the school of thought that as long as people have the normal understanding of the tech aspects, everything else is about personality. The finer details of the tech stuff can be taught to the right candidate.
So we go through the resumes. Any that don’t have any experience in what we’re looking for is out. That left about a dozen highly skilled prospects. All of whom screwed up on their resumes. Spelling mistakes, switching between first and third person perspective, bad layouts etc. C’mon people this stuff is important!
Next, the 5 “winners” get on conference call interviews. Because a lot of the job is about forcing other groups to do our bidding, nervous guy is off the list.
How do decide on the last 4? Well, we did it the traditional way and went with our gut feeling on who the best fits were.
But I wanted to take the candidates into a conference room and make them sit in there for about 20-30 minutes. Just to make them nervous. Of course we have a camera in the room to see whats going on. Finally, we open the door, and throw a dummy hand grenade in the corner. The one who jumps on the grenade to save the others is our new hire! The rest just aren’t team players…
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April 28th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I work in a doctors office, and the simple concept of hiring a receptionist would sound like a cake walk.. um sorry folks i think the hiring process my hubby had to do was a cinch in comparison.
why does it seem the the bottom of the pile files in for reception work? yes this is a relatively easy position, and should be easy to fill.. right?
I had too many bunny rabbits come in.. as chad referred to the one he called nervous guy.. i had too many women who were afraid of their own shadow.. ok yes interviews are nerve wracking but still, you can fake it a little right? (still the bunnies hadto go.. you need some back bone to handle the front desk, my elderly patients are sweet, but give them someone to terrorize and these cute elderly people would eat them alive).
another issue.. i love when people seem to favor talking about what is NOT on their resume. there is a HUGE warning light to me (actually that is an instant exit!). They really need to look at their resume their own selves.. and if you are going to lie.. try some committment there. (sheesh).
Why do people insist on lying on resumes and interviews? why would you not dress professionally for an interview.. did someone miss that trick too? you always dress above the position you are interviewing for (you can really never over dress for an interview, unless you wear aball gown).
And back tothe reception dilemma.. why is it that receptionists often think their job is a flexible schedule concept.. you know like they really do not need to come in?
now after 4 receptionists this year alone (that was by february) we finally did get someone in march who is working out. she is sweet, hardworking, and great with the patients. andshe is always willing to pick up extra time.. but is not clawing at it out of despiration (which one candidate made me realize her real desire was a fulltime position, we were only offering part-time).