Page 156 - Boost Your Hiring

142 Boost Your Hiring IQ

Small talk should be low key and general. Try not to ask questions
that can be answered with one word such as yes or no.
The ice-breaking session should last for a couple of minutes and
should always remain at a professional level. You should not discuss
anything that is controversial or in any way discriminatory or deroga-
tory.
If you turn up your listening and observation skills, you will find that
even while you chat informally, you will be able to pick up clues as to
the person’s preferred method of doing things. While the goal of the
small talk is to put the candidate at ease, it is still a part of the interview
process, particularly if you are judging a candidate on social or interper-
sonal skills.

Encourage and Reassure the Candidate
The careful interviewer is aware of key rules and regulations and avoids
making snap judgments by stereotyping rather than selecting the can-
didate based on his or her qualifications for the job. Encouraging the
candidate will help you see the real person and to get information you
might not otherwise have gotten. The following are general tips and in-
formation to think about before the interview:
• Smile and attempt to put the candidate at ease at the beginning of
the interview. Establishing rapport with the candidate is essential
for a successful interview.
• Be completely passive, no matter what you hear. Sometimes candi-
dates want to share inappropriate information during the interview.
This is not the time to judge or give advice. Try to listen without
changing your expression.
• Use restatements or reflections. Good listening skills include a tech-
nique that demonstrates that you heard what the person said by re-
flecting back comments. An example is, “It sounds like you had a
difficult time in that position.”

• Use varied posture to indicate interest and animation. Nonverbal
clues are just as important as verbal clues. If candidates think you
are not paying attention by your posture, they may shut down.
Leaning forward or shifting in your chair helps keep you focused
on the candidates and what they’re saying.
• Use good vocal expression and energy. Just as you pick up or lose
energy from the candidate, he or she in turn will reflect your style
through your vocal tone and expressions.