For HR professionals and hiring managers, mastering the art of interviewing is important for finding the right candidate while ensuring a fair, respectful, and structured process.
The first few minutes of an interview are more important than many people realize.
Candidates take cues from the interviewer on how formal or relaxed the conversation will be, and they often mirror your energy and tone.
Start with a friendly greeting, a bit of small talk, and then briefly outline how the interview will be structured.
This will set expectations and help candidates feel more comfortable.
Many interviewers start with the common first open question in a job interview: “Tell me about yourself.” They often think that this open question will bring out a lot of quality information about the candidate.
But then the interviewers realize a few challenges: they think that candidates often don’t get to the point, ramble too much, and speak in generalities instead of being specific.
The first few minutes of an interview are extremely important. This is when expectations are set. However, many interviewers have no plan or prepared questions at all.
During those first few minutes, candidates look to you to understand what’s about to happen, how they should behave, and how they should respond.
If you want candidates to share specific information about their experiences and do it clearly, you need to communicate that expectation. And you need to do it early and clearly.
So, my advice is to structure the interview at the beginning. After the small talk, you can outline the steps.
Let the candidates know that you have a set of questions you're excited to ask and that there will be time for their questions at the end of the interview.
Final thought
Interviews are stressful for many people, so by creating a welcoming environment, you’re also improving the quality of the conversation, building a good professional relationship, and creating a great candidate experience.
Effective interviews require planning, structure, and communication. By preparing thoughtfully, asking the right questions, and listening with intention, you will be better equipped to find candidates who are qualified and a strong fit for the team and company culture.