During 7 odd years in the field of HR and recruitment, i must have interviewed atleast 3000 odd candidates ranging from a houskeeping assistant to a CFO.
I remember my intial years when i used to get thrilled by watching my boss conducting an interview. I asked him once, do you ever get intimated by the candidate who might be senior to you in terms of experience, professional advancement or simply personality and communication...With a genuine smile that poured concern for his favourite trainee, my boss replied that it is a skill that you will learn with experience 'to hide any intimidation that you may encounter and conduct an interview with umpteen confidence!
Over the years, i think his words came true and I have mastered the art of putting up a beaming confidence come what may the profile i am hiring is...
But what happens when one is sitting on the other side of the table? Have we experienced the sweaty palms, growling stomach and warm foreheads...probably yes and for me always...
So what is this interviewing process all about and why does every job hunter feel the pangs of the interviewer hunting him down?
Personally, there have been many instances when i have walked out of the interview room feeling no more than shit about myself...there were days and sleepless nights spent in thinking over what went wrong? how could i have been so dumb, not fit for the job etc etc...
But recently I did some mind talk on the same... also analysed the way i myself conduct interviews, how would a candidate feel when he or she walks out of my interview room?
And i realised something which i had never given a thought to....
The real skill of an interviewer lies not in establishing himself as superior to the candidate, but to facilitate the conversation in a manner that brings out the best in the job seeker...
And every interviewee who feels motivated during the interview is sure to give his best in the process...as opposed to an insulted and bruised candidate walking out as if this was the end of the world..
Which shoes have you been in to?
I remember my intial years when i used to get thrilled by watching my boss conducting an interview. I asked him once, do you ever get intimated by the candidate who might be senior to you in terms of experience, professional advancement or simply personality and communication...With a genuine smile that poured concern for his favourite trainee, my boss replied that it is a skill that you will learn with experience 'to hide any intimidation that you may encounter and conduct an interview with umpteen confidence!
Over the years, i think his words came true and I have mastered the art of putting up a beaming confidence come what may the profile i am hiring is...
But what happens when one is sitting on the other side of the table? Have we experienced the sweaty palms, growling stomach and warm foreheads...probably yes and for me always...
So what is this interviewing process all about and why does every job hunter feel the pangs of the interviewer hunting him down?
Personally, there have been many instances when i have walked out of the interview room feeling no more than shit about myself...there were days and sleepless nights spent in thinking over what went wrong? how could i have been so dumb, not fit for the job etc etc...
But recently I did some mind talk on the same... also analysed the way i myself conduct interviews, how would a candidate feel when he or she walks out of my interview room?
And i realised something which i had never given a thought to....
The real skill of an interviewer lies not in establishing himself as superior to the candidate, but to facilitate the conversation in a manner that brings out the best in the job seeker...
And every interviewee who feels motivated during the interview is sure to give his best in the process...as opposed to an insulted and bruised candidate walking out as if this was the end of the world..
Which shoes have you been in to?
Welcome aboard! Nice topic you chose. I have always hated formal interviews. Informal conversations that make the interviewee feel comfortable are so much better. I wish interviews are held in some place like a coffee shop or something :)
ReplyDeleteA very nice post Pooja..I remember that I once had to talk about a social issue for half an hour in my interview; I basically had no clue whatsoever about that area...so most of it was bluff..when I came out, I felt like going inside and apologizing... hehe....but yes good observation..
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