Entrepreneurs How To Interview Like A Pro

When you start your business, you are likely on your own. It isn't long before you find yourself needing help with daily tasks or even more advanced tasks. Suddenly, you need to hire one or more people to assist you. Getting the right people for the job isn't simply a matter of reading a few resumes. You must know how to interview potential employees, both online and off. A single mistake could prevent you from adding the perfect person to your team.

Read The Resume

Entrepreneurs are busy people. After all, this is why you are hiring someone. However, you must take the time to read the entire resume before theinterview. Don't wait until a few minutes before or until the interview starts. Instead, learn more about the candidate before they arrive. This is your chance to determine what questions to ask, especially about past employment and skill set. You should also never ask someone in for an interview unless you are interested in knowing more about them.

Plan In Advance

Part of your questions will come from reading each individual's resume. However, you should create a list of questions to ask potential candidates before you schedule a single interview. Some entrepreneurs actually post some of the more important questions in the job ad so only serious candidates apply. For completely online interviews, you can have candidates fill out the answers in a survey format. The key is to always be prepared.

Ask For References/Samples

Just because someone's resume says they are experienced, it doesn't mean anything until you verify it. As such, always ask for references or samples of their work. For instance, if you wanted to hire an Internet marketer, you would want someone who could provide samples of work they had done for other clients. You can hire someone new to the field as long as they are knowledgeable in the area. You can determine this based on their answers to your pre-planned questions.

Listen

Candidates require you to lead the conversation. After all, they don't know exactly what information you are looking for. However, after asking a question, listen. Don't do all the talking. Professional interviewers actually record interviews to listen to later. You can also write down answers to place with the person's resume. Regardless, candidates deserve a chance to be heard. And that same attentive listening allows you to really get to know the candidate.

Answer Questions

The opposite is also true. Give them a chance to ask questions as well. This lets the candidate know if the job is right for them and gives them the opportunity to see if you truly know your business. No one really wants to work for someone who is completely clueless about running their own business. It's not exactly job security. Be prepared for common questions such as required hours, salary, benefits, company history and responsibilities.

The key to any interview, whether you hold it online or off, is to always be professional and respectful. Don't draw out the process and let candidates know a timeline of when they will be contacted if you like them or want a follow up interview. In order to get the right person for your team, you need to interview like a pro. Elite Entrepreneur helps you learn how to be more professional in all areas of your business life as you go from working solo to managing a thriving team.