Nervous for job interviews tomorrow - with a catch

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The catch is that I’m the interviewer

I’m not new to my role, been here for 2.5 years, but I recently got asked to take on a project where I’m in charge of start-to-finish recruitment for it. I’ve already done the screening calls for these candidates, and am fairly confident they’re going to be successful, but I’ve never actually interviewed before, so I’m a little nervous.

I know, realistically, they’re the ones who are going to be nervous, and that I’m the one “in control”, but I always get anxious doing new things so today has been an absolute nightmare for me, just worrying all day. It’s Sunday Scaries, mixed with Bank Holiday Scaries, mixed with general Scaries 🙈

Any tips?

I've done loads - even ones to determine whether we were going to fire someone senior.

My tip is to map out on paper how you want it to go. My normal routine

1. Bit of chat first up to get the candidate relaxed
2. Get them to walk through their CV - have questions about that pre-prepared
3. Ask competency questions - this is really important - what do you need from someone in the role you are interviewing for - have questions that test that
4. Let them ask questions

They all go a bit differently so a bit of thinking on your feet might be necessary. I've had a few where I had to restrain myself from laughing out loud. One bloke told me he was a clear and concise communicator - his CV was 9 pages long.

You'll be fine particularly after you've done one. I'd recommend having a bit of free time before an interview so you're properly prepared rather than rushing from another meeting. If you're doing a series of interviews leave 15 mins between each one

Good luck - if you have any more specific questions fire away. I'm around the rest of the evening

I think for me it's the 7Ps. (Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance!)

So pretty much like when I'm being interviewed!

So if I was nervous, I'd lay all my clothes out the night before, make sure I set off super early. Go to the room and get all the tech working. Print off my questions with space for answers if I wanted to make notes by hand, or make sure I had a spare laptop available, in case someone needs one for some weird reason, if I want to type them.

Prep the sort of thing I'm going to say when I collect them (i.e. show them where the loos are, ask if they want tea/coffee/water, explain who I am, who the other interviewers are and how they relate to the post in question). Or arrange someone to collect them and divvy the above out between me when they arrive and the person collecting.

Probably printed questions even if I do want to type them in case of technology failure. Phone switched off and glass of water.

If the interviews are in the afternoon and you have time, you could grab a team member and do a run through to practice.

Have a think about the sort of information you want from the answers and how you might probe to get the information you need.

Perhaps the other thing I can add smart candidates usually want to get the vibe that you are interested in them ( as well of course as you wanting to get the vibe they are genuinely interested in the job.

I try to avoid doing interviews with other people. Did one where the co-interviewer got his mobile out and start doing his emails while the candidate and I were discussing something. Sends completely the wrong message

Are your interview questions already set out for you? A good technique for getting more detailed answers is to remember the STARR frame work, situation, task, actions, results, reflection. So if you asked a question and they said they were involved in project xyz, but don’t give much more info, you could ask what was the outcome? Oh it was blah blah blah, then you might ask and in reflection what do you think you learned from that/could have done better?

I’d take another person in with you, they can take notes, and it’s always useful to get someone else’s take on the candidate. I like to bring another team member in to note take, they do the job day in day out and will know if the candidate would be a good fit.

Practice out loud what you are going to say in your introduction. If interviewing online, check one of your children hasn't changed your background to a Minecraft theme or set up for you to appear with a comedy cat face (bitter experience)