This article is part of the Interviewing Techniques Guide. Read our related articles on interviewing tips for hiring managers and creating unique questions for your candidates.
Recruitment is one of the essential processes for any business development. Recruiters and Hiring Managers are the ones that play a significant role in what type of talent gets into the company and how to fit they are with the culture and business objectives.
Having the right interviewing skills is one of the necessary steps to increase the recruitment ROI.
We want to share with you some tips and tricks on how you can improve your interviewing skills.
Interviewing skills basics
What are interviewing skills?
Interviewing skills are the set of actions and behavior that increases the chances of an effective recruiting and selecting process. Some of these skills might be focus, listening abilities, strategy mapping, or non-verbal communication.
The Importance of interviewing skills
Cultivating the right interviewing skills has a bidirectional benefit: for the company and personal development. In terms of company, constantly working on your interviewing skills means better processes, better decision-making, and the capacity to select the right talent.
Continually learning also has an impact on your personal development. You can develop a more extensive portfolio that will increase your resume and open the doors for opportunities.
5 Interviewing skills for a great Interviewer
Preparation
One of the most important skills is preparation. Every recruiter should do their homework before any interview. You should:
- Check your candidate resume
- Check the job requirements
- Prepare the list of questions
- Prepare backup questions/signals in case they are needed
- Refresh the interview flow and the info you want to present about the company
Analyzing data
Being human is great, but it also mean it comes with a set of biases. One of the skills you should develop as a recruiter is the ability to make data-informed decisions. Analyze the data you have about your candidates, check previous recruitment KPIs, and map your processes accordingly.
Art of listening
Although asking the right questions is important, listening to the answers is more important. You need to learn to read between the lines and connect the dots between various answers as a recruiter. To do that, you need to practice active listening and focus only on the candidate in front of you.
Building Report
As a recruiter or Hiring Manager, you have to generate different types of reports for your hiring process. Knowing how to build reports that are easy to understand and actionable is one of the skills that will improve your performance.
Making notes and scoring
During the interview, one of your roles is to make notes. Even though it might sound like something easy, balancing active listening, asking questions, and paying attention to non-verbal communication makes things more complicated. Making notes should be on your ‘’to develop’’ skills list since you will decide based on them.
How to improve your interviewing skills
Understanding the list of skills you can work on is one thing; knowing how to improve them is a different discussion. That’s why we want to share with you 3 tips on improving your interviewing skills.
Tip #1 Interview with your co-workers
Our number 1 tip is to interview your co-workers at the beginning. This is a great way to gather feedback and see different styles of doing interviews.
Tip #2 Make a ritual
Your mental and energetic state is also a predicament of how the interview will flow. We recommend you create a ritual for yourself before every interview. Make sure you include something that brings you joy, such as listening to music, shaking your body, etc.
Tip #3 Discover your biases
We previously mentioned that having biases is part of human nature. That’s why, to improve your recruiting skills, it is important to become aware of your biases.
What other skills would you add to the list?
Interviewing Skills FAQ
What is the most important skill for an interviewer?
The most important skill for an interviewer is active listening.
What are the benefits of active listening skills when interviewing?
One of the main benefits is that you will truly understand what the candidate is sharing with you. Moreover, you will create a positive connection and be fully present.
Why should I improve my interviewing skills?
Improving your interviewing skills increases your chances of better recruitment performance and helps you build your personal skills map and portfolio.