Page 161 - Boost Your Hiring

The Surefire Way to Boost Your Score 147

Listen for intelligent questions that are about the company or job,
specifically. If there is no interest in the company or what you have been
talking about, maybe this person does not feel especially energized by
the idea of working at your company. He or she may not be the right
person for the job.

Handling Difficult Questions and Situations
For a variety of reasons there may be times when you will have to han-
dle difficult questions about the job or your company. It is best to be as
honest as you can be, yet diplomatic. A good rule to follow is to never
become emotional about anything said during an interview. Even if you
don’t agree with or are offended by what a candidate says, stay calm and
end the interview as quickly as possible without being rude to the can-
didate.
When handling difficult situations, make sure you stay in control and
calm. As an extreme example, if the candidate were to become ill during
the interview, call for the appropriate help immediately.Another example
would be if there was a security issue to deal with. Again, stay in control
and call for the proper assistance.

Explaining the Job and the Responsibilities
While the job description gives the candidate general information about
the job, it will be your responsibility to fill in the blanks. The candidate
will want to know information about the job responsibilities and the
kind of interaction he or she will be expected to have with others. Can-
didates should leave the interview with a very good picture of what will
be expected of them in this job. Only then can they evaluate if the job is
the right job for them.
You should be prepared to talk about the position and the company
and to respond to any questions the candidate has. If you do not have
the answers to the questions, then take notes and promise that you will
find out. Be sure if you promise to do something that you do as prom-
ised. This could be a reflection on the company and how the candidate
can expect to be treated if hired. It could leave a positive or negative im-
pression.
Your genuine enthusiasm during this period could convince the can-
didate or deter the candidate from accepting an offer.

Selling the Company and the Benefits
As the cost of health care and other benefits have soared,the benefits pack-
age your company offers has become more valuable and at the same time
must be competitive with other companies trying to attract the best candi-