I have been to some companies for interviews. Through these experiences, I’ve come to realize that some interview details are extremely important and useful when considering an employer, while others seem like a waste of time. So, what I want to talk about here is what I think works and doesn’t work.
In the company I once participated in an interview, there was one that impressed me deeply. It was my first experience of group facing. Actually, this type of interview is not uncommon these days, but that one made me feel bad. In short, we don’t seem to know who the interviewer is, and we don’t get any additional useful information about the company or the position during the interview. We were simply gathered together in a room and discussed freely. By the end of the interview, few people, other than the representatives of each group, saw the interviewer in the other room and had no way of knowing whether they were presenting the aspects they were looking for. After the end of a long time we were at home waiting for the final notice, no one told us how long it would take or whether we were rejected. It’s a terrible feeling, and I don’t think there are any lessons for us job seekers.
The other experience seemed to be more effective. During the interview, I briefly shared with the interviewer my personal information and the expected abilities for the position. Although it did not last for a long time and the final job search result was not ideal, we further clarified each other’s ideas in the short communication process and received timely feedback. Therefore, it was an effective interview experience for me.
With that in mind, I think employers need to be clear that an interview is never a one-way process. Although with the help of modern technology, employers can learn some information about job applicants from big data, it is not complete or true. Real information needs to be obtained through face-to-face communication. While employers are learning about interviewees, they are also judging the culture and environment of the company in their own way by the performance of the interviewers. If employers see it only as a company screening process, they are likely to face talent misses. Equal and sincere communication is a must for an effective interview.
Source:
Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Steinmetz, C. (2013). The perfect hireLinks to an external site. . Scientific American Mind , 24 (3), 42-47.
