Interviewing

Hiring looks different as economy improves

09/26/2013

Good economic news means HR pros are spending more of their time recruiting, hiring and orienting new staff. But the process looks and feels a lot different than it used to.

When interviewing, listen for pronouns

09/16/2013

Low performers tend to use second- and third-person pronouns (you, your, he, she, it), while high performers tend to speak in the first person (I, we), according to research by consulting firm Leadership IQ.

Gather essential hiring records: Interviewers should take notes, HR should collect them

09/03/2013

It’s impossible for everyone to remember exactly what happened during an interview held several years earlier. But that’s what an interview panel may be asked to do if a candidate sues. The best approach is to ask the panelists to take notes. Then you should collect all the panelists’ notes for potential future use.

Only interviewing a few candidates? Note why you skipped some applications

09/03/2013

Unfortunately, some applicants don’t take rejection well. That’s why you need to document what you did with each application. Something as simple as the fact the applicant didn’t fill out the form completely may help you if you’re sued.

Creative candidates: 10 memorable stunts that worked … and 10 that didn’t

08/29/2013

Every HR professional has seen their share of unique pitches from applicants. Here’s a collection of memorable ones that worked and didn’t, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of 2,000 HR professionals and hiring managers.

Candidate tanks during job interview? That’s a legitimate reason not to hire

08/26/2013

Interviews reveal applicants’ membership in protected classes like race, sex and obvious disability. As a result, courts sometimes look with suspicion on rejecting an applicant who was obviously qualified enough to earn an interview but who was rejected because of her interview performance.

Brainteaser interview questions: Why Google now calls them useless

08/16/2013

One of the hallmarks of Google’s hiring strategy has been its famously quirky interview questions: How many piano tuners are there in the world? Why are manhole covers round? But Google has recently stopped asking such questions.

Do agencies use ‘fake applicants’ to test for bias?

08/14/2013

Q. When interviewing a candidate, I became suspicious the job-seeker was a “tester.” Her answers seemed like she was fishing for a slip-up. Do agencies or groups still send out people to see whether employers are hiring legally?

Just how many plaintiffs can one suit have?

08/13/2013

What if you get a hiring decision wrong, choosing someone from one protected category over another slightly better-qualified minority applicant? Fortunately, that misstep won’t open the door for hordes of minority applicants to sue. Only the slightly better-qualified applicant will have a claim.

Cull interview lists to ensure you include the most-qualified candidates

07/30/2013

Before you begin talking to candidates, make sure everyone you selected for an interview opportunity is among the best qualified, and that you haven’t passed over anyone who is obviously as well-qualified as other applicants. That’s the best way to avoid a needless failure-to-hire suit.