The Interview Process: How Today's Companies Lure Key Employees

featured in the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

When fishing for new employees, interviewers are ready to toss as many fish back in the water as it takes until they find that prized bass: the employee that is going to make an important contribution to their company. With the thought of the incredible cost of employee turnover looming in the back of interviewers’ minds, they are pressured to find the employee that is going to help the business succeed.

When entering the interviewing situation, interviewers and interviewees both have to think outside the box in today’s business society. There are numerous jobs and many candidates, but making that perfect match is highly important.

Interviewers are asking much more than the old standby questions such as, “Tell me about yourself?” and, “What is your biggest weakness?” which candidates have come to expect. There are many different types of interviews that the interviewer can choose to conduct and there are many more processes from which to choose.

The first type of interview usually preformed is a Phone Interview. This type of interview saves a substantial amount of time by helping the interviewer weed out some less qualified candidates and because it bypasses the formality of a face-to-face interview. Additionally, phone interviews are much less stressful and formal, making them very good indicators of a candidate’s character. The more relaxed setting allows the interviewer to get a better insight on the true character of the individual.

The next type of non-traditional interview is a Behavior-based Interview. This interview involves asking numerous questions about the past experiences of the candidate. The candidate is expected to replay actions they took in the situation and explain how they affected the outcome. The most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance, leading this type of interviewing to be a successful indicator of the capabilities of the candidate.

Another type of interviewing, similar to Behavioral interviewing is a Situational Interview. In this type of interview, the candidate is expected to still pull from past experiences, but this time the situation is hypothetical and often one the candidate has not experienced before. The candidate may create a way he/she would handle the situation and may discuss how they handled a certain situation in the past explaining how that experience would relate to the hypothetical situation at hand.

Another type of interview increasingly used is the Case Interview. This type of interview is often used in a second or third meeting with a candidate. The interviewer often gives an oral or written presentation to the interviewee about a situation or an account the company is currently working on. The interviewee is given a set amount of time to prepare a brief analysis of the situation and/or propose a solution to the presented case. This allows interviewers to see the candidate in action as well as bringing the stress level of the interview up a few notches to see how the candidate reacts.

Why is a manhole cover round? How many quarters placed on top of each other would it take to reach the top of the Empire State Building? Brainteaser Interview questions like these are becoming increasingly popular as well. A degree from Harvard may get you into an interview, but companies are looking for more than just book smarts. Successful businesses use these puzzles because they feel that it is a good way to gauge a person's true intelligence and thought process. Interviewers are looking to see a clear thought process, a confident answer and the candidate respond to a situation on which they might not be too clear.

Whether you are a candidate looking for a new job or a business member looking for a new star employee, creativity is an important aspect of a good interview. As an interviewer in the 21st century, it is important to do everything you can to thoroughly screen candidates and find the perfect fish from the pond. As an interviewee, it is important to be on your toes and ready for anything. There are many fish fighting for the worm. As a hopeful candidate, it is crucial to do everything in your power to make it to the top and prove why it should be yours.