Management Tip of the Day: Maintain Control When Conducting a Job Interview

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile NOVEMBER 15, 2012 Maintain Control When Conducting a Job Interview When interviewing a job candidate, your goal is to learn as much as possible so you can make an informed decision. It's your job to keep the conversation focused and encourage the candidate to talk. You should ask most of the questions and do most of the listening. If the candidate gets off track, gently steer the conversation back to the topic. Use phrases such as, "You were saying earlier..." or "tell me more about..." Regularly summarize what you hear so you can confirm what has been said, make transitions to other topics, and limit the comments of a wordy candidate. An example of such a summary would be, "Are you saying that there was a six-month period when you were supervising 20 people in two different departments? That must have been difficult. How did you stay organized and on top of what was happening?" Today's Management Tip was adapted from the Harvard ManageMentor Online Module: Hiring. Access the course to learn techniques for selecting top performers » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Hiring Harvard ManageMentor Online Module Techniques for finding, interviewing, and selecting top performers. Covers information on screening resumes, checking references, asking effective questions, making the hiring decision, and extending the offer. Includes tools for creating a job profile, preparing for an interview, and evaluating job candidates. One-year single user license. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Make Your To-Do List Work If You Both Work, Stay Happy Help Your Multitasking Colleague Break the Habit Manage a Challenging (and Valuable) Employee When Working Hard, Make Time for Rest Prepare to Answer Customers' Toughest Questions Make the Most of a Bad Job Get to Know Your Unknown Audience Toss the Old Rules for Selling Reward Yourself for Doing the Tasks You Hate All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)