Interviewer nerves!

[Positivelypatient]

I'm due to sit on an interview panel for the first time today and honestly you'd think it's me being interviewed I'm so nervous!

So, does anyone have any advice or tips from the other side of the table please?

I only have 2 questions to ask (already allocated) and it's actually for my job share partner so I'm glad I'll get some input on the decision making.

I've made notes and have identified the skills from the JD and obviously know many details of the actual role but I'm just so nervous.

I'm sure the people coming for interview will be doubly nervous but little do they know I'm bricking it too.

So any advice or just words of reassurance would be much appreciated.

If you're nervous just focus on saying as little as possible. Short intro, ask your 2 questions, thanks for coming, bye.

That's it.

@27icey really - thank you, when you put it like that its simple!

Have a good discussion with the chair in advance of the interviews as to what the priorities & criteria for decision are.

Remind yourself of the competencies your questions are testing, listen & take notes.

Be friendly & warm to the candidate. That's it!

I assume you've done interview training?

Thanks @EarringsandLipstick I've had a chat with the chair as you suggest. Interview/recruitment training was an online course so the basics really.

I wouldn't assume anyone had attended interview training, I've never heard of it and I work for a big organisation.

Do you know what it is you're anxious about? I've a few times interviewed people who were on paper more senior to me. For one of them I was allocated a ridiculous question. This woman had taught one of my training modules a decade or more before. In response to hearing the question she gave me a raised eyebrow, I returned with a sympathetic smirk and we got on with it. I still laugh when I think about it.

The interview panel chat itself is usually fun, so hopefully your nerves will steady quickly.

I wouldn't assume anyone had attended interview training, I've never heard of it and I work for a big organisation.

Really unusual not to have interview skills training, even from a legal / compliance point of view. I've not heard of any organisation not doing it, let alone a big one. They are really exposing themselves.

@dudsville thank you, I think just general nerves at not having done it before. Realistically I know I'll be fine. It is not for a high level role although they are all external and their experience doesnt align that great to the role so its a case of identifying transferrable skills that will make them a good enough fit.

I've done lots of interviewing over the years, I really enjoy it.

My tip would be to focus on the candidates rather than on yourself. Try and make them feel at ease... just smiling and friendly can help a lot, but also being attentive throughout the interview, e.g. making sure that they have water, encouraging them to take their time if they get flustered etc.

Check if you are able to ask follow up questions / prompt for further information. "Can you say a little more about that?" or if it is ask your questions and that's it.

Some people get very nervous in interviews and don't answer the questions even when you can see they probably can, if you can prompt a little it can really help sometimes.

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves @VerityUnreasonble both really helpful posts thank you - I like the 'can you say a little more about that' - I think I would be ok to say that /prompt for further info. Probably need to keep to the less is more approach too to ensure fairness across all candidates.

So far the most useful thing to come out of my online recruitment training was that as an interviewer you should do 25% of the talking and the candidate 75%.

Some good advice here and I do understand how you are feeling.

Do you know how the post-interview discussion will work - will you have a form to complete, how will the panel discussion work? It would be worth talking about that before the first interview so you're clear what will happen.

So, for eg, at most recent panel I was on after each interview we had a few minutes to jot down our thoughts and then had a quick conversation about the candidate (but reaching a conclusion after we'd seen everyone obviously). The chair would invite a different panel member to kick off the discussion about candidates each time.

Thanks to those who took the time to steady my nerves today, we've just finished the interviews and I'm actually surprised to find that I was enjoying it towards the end. I didn't feel out of my depth and hopefully was friendly and welcoming and put the candidates at their ease.

We had unanimous agreement on the appointable candidates so hopefully they will accept.

At the grand age of 54 I've achieved something new! Go me!