by Michael Holland
When you are interviewing, pay attention to how much talking you are doing. Your goal is to learn as much as you can about the candidate and this is best accomplished when the candidate is talking and you are listening. Too often, we spend too much time talking, telling the candidate about the job, rather than asking him about his experience and past performance.
Before you meet any candidates, decide what open-ended questions you want to ask. Identify what behaviors and skills are critical to the position’s success and then ask questions related to these characteristics. Probe for specific examples from each candidate regarding his past behavior rather than how he perceives he will behave. Remember – past performance is the best indicator of future performance.
You have two ears and one mouth, so divide your time accordingly.
