Onsite Interview Guide for Employers: Preparation for the Candidate

“Don’t blow it!!” - That’s what we want CEOs or whoever the hiring manager is in your small business to know.  

It takes so much of your time/resources to get a great candidate to be interested in your position - the average survey says it takes 40-80 hours of work to find a good candidate. So, don’t blow it when you get the opportunity to interview.

If you are spending so much time getting a great candidate to the interview stage, let’s figure out how to keep them engaged! 

Here are some tips and tricks we have learned over the last 29 years as you set up their interview experience (if you are more interested in Matt Filer and I discussing on the HR Ins and Outs for Small Business Podcast, here is the link to the podcast):

Tip #1 - Let the Candidate Know What to Expect

No one wants a surprise. No one wants to wait around and wonder what comes next.  So, tell your candidates at the very beginning of the process what is likely to happen. This can help to alleviate any anxiety they may have and ensure that they are well-prepared. Send an email saying something like:

“Dear Sue, We are very excited to have you entering the interview process for the Accounting Manager position.  We will begin with a video interview on ______. This will be 30 minutes and will be with the hiring manager, ____________.  Next, we will be sending a personality assessment to you. This will take 15 minutes of your time and we will send you the results as well.  Then, the on-site interviews will happen over 3 hours in one day and the candidates will meet with 3 of our other managers, __________________.  We hope to make a hiring decision by July 1.   If you will not be advancing to the next stage in the process we will let you know in a timely manner.  Let’s get started.  We look forward to getting to know you.” - You have our permission to copy and paste. 

Tip #2 - Get the Logistics Right

Ensure that parking, reception, and other logistics are in order. This will help to create a smooth and seamless experience for the candidate, and also ensure that they arrive at the interview feeling relaxed and focused. Here are some examples:

• If there are multiple parking lots, send a map showing which one to use. If the front door is confusing - spell it out in the directions.  

• If you have a receptionist, make sure he/she knows your candidate is coming, and exactly what to do when he/she arrives. Reception should know exactly what to say: “Glad you are here, Sue!  We have been expecting you. Take a seat right here and Don will be with you right at 9am!  We hope you have a good day.”

You would think this is self-explanatory. However, we hear from candidates all the time about how there was no direction and they did not know where to go.

Tip #3 - Don’t Overload the Candidate

As you plan the interview day, here are some tips:  

1. Plan on the interview being around 30-45 minutes. 

2. Plan on interviews never being more than a 3-1 ratio (interviewers to interviewee).  Large panel interviews just don’t work well and totally stress the candidate. We get the feedback that it feels like a firing squad when there are more than 3! 

3. Plan for a break with a snack or coffee if the person will have multiple interviews.  

Tip #4  - Be Prepared

We always tell the candidate to be prepared but the interviewer should be as well! Here are some easy items to check along the way:

1. Make sure you have reviewed the resume and highlight a couple of interesting things. 

2. Look at their LinkedIn to see what you might have in common. 

3. Have 2-3 questions written about their background and 2-3 more questions to help you determine culture fit and skills fit!  

It will speak volumes to the candidate that you are a quality employer if you have taken the time in advance to research them.  What do you think when you walk into the interview as a candidate and the interviewer obviously is looking at your resume for the first time - it is disappointing for sure!

We get it - hiring isn’t much fun.  No one loves it.  But your outcome can be much better if you do these things in advance!!

If you want to go more into depth about this subject, listen to our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts:

Link to Spotify Podcast

Link to Apple Podcast

Win At Interviewing

Congrats! You scored the interview of your dreams. Are you prepared? It’s time to get serious about landing the job, and there can be a lot of things to think about. Use our 5 tips to not just win at interviewing, but to make this experience positive and successful!

5 Ways to Win at Interviewing:

1. Research the organization. Look on their website, google them, and find their social media accounts. Find out as much as you can about the organization, what they do and who they serve. Understand the job qualifications, and if you have a list of names of the people you will be interviewing with, learn about them and their role.

2. Prepare responses to questions they may ask. Anticipate what a potential employer may ask you based on the job description. You should also think about the statement you’ll use if you need some time to think before giving an answer. If you don’t understand a question, it’s ok to ask the interviewer to rephrase it or provide clarity. This may mean the difference between providing a great answer or a mediocre one.

3. Plan ahead and make sure you are on time. Make sure you know where you’re going and give yourself plenty of time to get there. Consider the time of day and what traffic may look like. You may even want to drive by the spot of the interview the day before to ensure you know where it is. As far as an “ideal” time to arrive, we usually suggest seven minutes prior to your scheduled time.

4. Plan what to wear and bring with you. As you think about your outfit for the interview, always air on the side of dressing up more (even in a casual interview). It shows you are taking this meeting seriously and want to present your best self. Make sure to print off at least five copies of your resume, and if you have a portfolio, make sure it’s assembled and ready to present.

5. Brush up on body language. Do a mock interview in the mirror or with a friend. Pay close attention to your body language and what it might be saying to the interviewer. Some key things to consider include eye contact, a firm handshake and your posture. You want to look comfortable and engaged in the conversation.

Make sure you are fully prepared for the interview before you walk into their office. Try to relax and most importantly, be yourself.

View more of our interview tips here. We also offer full support for any of our candidates currently job searching.

Apply to be a candidate here.

Good luck!