Years after the “Great Resignation” turned the job economy upside down, businesses are still feeling the ripple effects today. With many industries struggling to attract employees—and others struggling even more with trying to retain them—some business leaders are desperately looking for solutions to this ongoing problem.
One such solution is an overhaul of the interview process. One of the first opportunities businesses have to make a good impression on potential hires, interviews are perfect for highlighting what makes your business so attractive. According to the members of Young Entrepreneur Council, the following 10 strategies can help you create a quality interview experience that will be sure to impress.
1. Share What Makes Your Culture Unique
Talking about your company's unique culture is a good way to distinguish your business from all the others. Too often, interviews focus solely on the job, compensation and benefits when a huge part of job satisfaction stems from company culture. Share examples of what makes your organization different and gives added value above and beyond the basics. - Evan Nierman, Red Banyan
2. Integrate Storytelling
One key approach is to integrate storytelling into the interview process. This means showcasing your company's culture, values and journey through engaging narratives and perhaps even using multimedia presentations. This approach not only informs candidates about the company but also creates an emotional connection, making the experience memorable and distinct from standard interviews. - Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
3. Keep Candidates Updated At Every Stage
To create a great interview experience to impress the candidates, it's best to communicate the hiring timeline clearly. This means keeping candidates up to date at each stage until they reach the final phase. Companies often reach out to candidates who have passed the interview. There should be protocols in place for rejected candidates as well, sharing information about why they didn't make it. - Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
4. Be Honest About Compensation
Today, people are looking for transparency and honesty in interviews and when working for a company. A simple but impressive thing you can do is to discuss pay, rewards and time off honestly and to encourage an open discussion on compensation. Many businesses refuse to do this, and you can make a positive impression by being honest about pay expectations. - Blair Williams, MemberPress
5. Remove Intimidation From The Process
For candidates, appearing in an interview is often viewed as a stressful experience. Keeping things formal is one thing, but you shouldn't make the process uncomfortable or frightening for potential recruits. So, try making the process a bit casual, and focus on creating a friendly atmosphere. Make it more like a conversation than an assessment. - Jared Atchison, WPForms
6. Explain How Your Company Can Help Them Grow
Recruiters can create a memorable interview experience for candidates by explaining how accepting their job offer will help them grow and evolve. The key is to have incentives to point to, like access to premium online classes, an option for mentoring and access to a catalog of paid audiobooks. If you don't have these kinds of resources, now is a great time to invest. - Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
7. Create A Warm And Welcoming Atmosphere
It's important to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for job candidates during interviews. Make them feel comfortable by inviting them to ask questions. Showcase your company culture, mission and vision, and emphasize what sets you apart as an employer. Remember, getting to know them and their unique skills and experience is just as important as them getting to know you. - Rachel Beider, PRESS Modern Massage
8. Respect Their Time
One way to impress your candidates in job interviews is by respecting their time. You should consider scheduling interviews in advance to give them the time they need to prepare. You should also try to minimize delays in announcing the results. If multiple rounds of interviews are necessary, try to consolidate them into a single visit, if possible. - Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
9. Take The Time To Get To Know Them
Some of the guidelines for candidates also apply to interviewers. Just as a candidate should learn about the company and position before the interview, so should you know something about the person you're interviewing. Spend a few minutes reviewing their résumé, cover letter and other info you can find. This helps build rapport and shows you have a real interest in them. - Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting
10. Highlight The Impact They'll Have
The best way to attract top employees is to show how your business and their work have an impact on something bigger. For example, inform the developer you're hiring that their work has a direct impact on local businesses by helping them set up online stores more easily. The best candidates want their work to have meaning, so show this to them by talking about the social and other impacts they create. - Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner