The job interview is your ticket to finding the best candidates to hire. The more effective it is, the better your hiring decisions will be.

Sounds simple enough, right? And yet, according to statistics, nearly half of new hires fail on the job within the first 18 months. All of those might not be due to weak interviews. However, as one of Houston’s seasoned staffing firms, we know that many hiring mistakes can be avoided by a sound process that helps you interview more consistently and effectively. To help improve yours, here are a few strategies to put to use:

Make sure interviewers are trained

If the people conducting interviews aren’t on the HR staff – and are managers in their departments instead – make sure they’re thoroughly trained on interview best practices. For instance, you want to instruct them to evaluate candidates more on facts, not on hunches or impressions. Likewise, you can provide behavioral based interview training so they have the tools and tactics needed to take a deeper dive into a candidate’s background and experience.

Be transparent about the opportunity

Talk to every candidate about what the position entails and what it’s like to work at the company. When they ask about challenges that come with the role, be honest. Don’t try to sidestep these kinds of questions. Also, don’t make claims that aren’t true. If a candidate does accept the job based on inaccurate information, they probably won’t stick around for long.

Offer a positive candidate experience

The interviewer isn’t the only doing the evaluating. Candidates too are sizing up your organization and the opportunity. It’s important not to lose sight of that in the interview process and to create a positive candidate experience as a result.

When candidates are left in the dark after an interview, are treated rudely by a staff member, or aren’t given the time to ask questions during an interview, it’s going to impact their impression of your company. Even if you don’t end up hiring them for the current position, they could be the right fit for one down the line. So you want to put your best foot forward with each one.

Ask candidates why they want to work for you

There are plenty of candidates out there looking for just any job. You want the ones who have a strong desire to work at your company and land this opportunity. To find them, ask why they want the job. If they don’t have an answer, then they’re probably not the right fit.

Schedule two rounds of interviews

It can be tough to tell whether a candidate is right for the job after just one interview. That’s why it’s important to schedule a second one. Interviewers can take the time needed to regroup and reflect on candidates. In addition, a second interview offers an opportunity to get behind the candidate mask and dig deeper into each one’s background.

Get better hires with Murray Resources

Don’t have the time or resources to devote to the hiring process? Let Murray Resources help. As one of Houston’s top staffing firms, we can deliver the talent you need through a rigorous sourcing, interviewing and hiring process. We can even conduct skills testing and background checks, all to ensure you get the high-quality people you need. Contact us today to learn more or get started.