5 Tips For Conducting Your First Job Interview

5 Tips For Conducting Your First Job Interview You might feel a bit nervous about conducting an interview, especially if youve NEVER done anything like it before. Although its only natural to feel apprehensive before trying something new, you must remain calm and confident for the good of the candidate. In order to make sure the interview runs smoothly and you get the most out of it, you need to make sure you are prepared. Follow our 5 tips to conducting a successful interview: Practice makes perfect If you have the option to, we advise shadowing a colleague or employer during an interview to get a better understanding of what is expected from your  side. Conducting an interview with no experience could end up as a disaster, especially if you dont know what questions to ask etc. Even if you just end up practising with one of your colleagues we definitely advise it. Its good to make sure you have a well-structured interview and that you know exactly how to approach candidates before diving into your first one. Ask your manager to sit in on a practice interview and provide you with some feedback. Know what you are looking for Its important that you establish what you are looking for in your candidate before you begin interviewing. This is why its important to have a strong, informative job advert before beginning your candidate search. Ask the right questions The questions you ask are a crucial factor in making sure you get all of the right information, this is why its important to plan. A mixture of behavioural and situational questions are perfect. This way you can get a good insight into the candidates work history and experiences  whilst asking them to apply their skills and knowledge to potential situations that may arise within the job role. Its really important to ask a couple of questions that will allow you to get an insight into the candidate on a personal level. Give them time to talk After asking your questions, its important that you listen carefully to the candidates responses and make notes throughout. Try to avoid cutting candidates short or interrupting them, you need to respect that this is their time to speak and they may need to take their time. End on a nice note At the end of the interview, encourage the candidate to ask any questions that they may have. Its important to provide them with in-depth answers to ensure that you really sell the role and company to them and provide them with any information they may need.  Make sure you end the interview