How can you avoid common interview mistakes?

1 Plan ahead

One of the most common interview mistakes is not preparing enough for the interview. This can lead to vague or irrelevant questions, poor time management, and missed opportunities to assess the candidates' skills and fit. To avoid this, you should plan ahead and do some research on the candidates, their backgrounds, and their roles. You should also prepare a list of specific and behavioral questions that align with the job requirements and the organizational values. Additionally, you should schedule enough time for each interview and inform the candidates about the process and the expectations.

2 Listen actively

Another common interview mistake is not listening actively to the candidates' answers. This can result in interrupting, jumping to conclusions, or missing important information. To avoid this, you should listen attentively and respectfully to what the candidates say, and avoid distractions or biases. You should also use open-ended questions, probes, and paraphrases to encourage the candidates to elaborate and clarify their points. Furthermore, you should take notes during the interview to help you remember and evaluate the candidates' responses.

3 Be consistent

A third common interview mistake is not being consistent in your approach and criteria. This can lead to unfair or inaccurate comparisons, favoritism, or legal issues. To avoid this, you should use the same questions, format, and rating scale for all the candidates, and base your decisions on objective and relevant evidence. You should also avoid asking personal or inappropriate questions that are not related to the job or that could be considered discriminatory. Moreover, you should provide honest and constructive feedback to the candidates and follow up with them in a timely manner.

4 Communicate effectively

A fourth common interview mistake is not communicating effectively with the candidates or the stakeholders. This can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, or dissatisfaction. To avoid this, you should communicate clearly and professionally with the candidates before, during, and after the interview. You should also communicate effectively with your colleagues, managers, or HR representatives who are involved in the hiring or promotion process. You should share your expectations, opinions, and recommendations with them, and seek their input and feedback as well.

5 Learn and improve

A fifth common interview mistake is not learning and improving from your experience. This can lead to repeating the same errors, losing good candidates, or missing opportunities to grow as a supervisor. To avoid this, you should reflect on your performance and identify your strengths and weaknesses as an interviewer. You should also seek feedback from the candidates, your peers, or your mentors on how you can improve your interview skills. Additionally, you should keep up to date with the best practices and trends in interviewing and supervisory skills.