https://unsplash.com/@tinaflour
When you’re interviewing a job candidate, it is important to remember to limit your words. While it’s a good sign if you are able to carry on a comfortable and interesting conversation with the candidate, it’s also important to give them the space they need to impress you. When you talk too much in an interview, it can be problematic in 2 ways.
- You won’t get a chance to learn as much as you should and could about the candidate, if too much time is spent on you. There is a balance to seek when providing enough background information for some of your questions, and not providing too much information that you’re speaking more than the candidate. Remember: your questions should be shorter than their answers.
- Since a candidate prepares for her interview, changing the script by talking too much, or interrupting her during her answers, really throws her off. She’s hopefully prepared a beautiful pitch and some eloquent ways to convince you of her greatness. Give her the space to deliver her performance.
The next time you’re preparing questions for a candidate, consider how much content is necessary to provide, before releasing each question to the candidate. Also, if you’re planning to spend time talking about the company or the role, make sure that speech is contained and doesn’t impose on the candidates time to show off for you.
What kind of role do you play when interviewing job candidates? Share with us in the comments below.