Before any candidate comes into your office, you need to be prepared. When you created the job posting, you created a description that listed the position’s essential functions. Just as that job description is the starting place for the applicant, it’s also the starting place for your interview.
Remember, this is your opportunity to verify what the candidate has stated on paper. According to your job description, create a list of the position’s essential functions. This list will lead you to the characteristics needed to effectively complete the position’s responsibilities.
It’s All about Characteristics. OK, characteristics; how do you decide what characteristics you’re looking for? Take a moment to consider each of the job’s functions separately. What, exactly, does each function entail? As a writer, I understand that when an employer is looking for a writer she’s not just looking for someone who can spell “potato,” knows when to use a comma, and can make a subject and verb agree. She’s also looking for someone who can condense copious quantities of information into short but compelling copy; look at the same old product in a new, exciting, and creative way; and take feedback graciously and then apply it. Characteristics are more than just the bare minimum of ability to complete the job—they’re also the peripheral attributes that contribute to a job well done.
You can build a list of characteristics by imagining hypothetical situations that the new employee may be placed in. Or, even more effective, think of actual situations when a star employee performed well and exceeded all expectations. Examine either scenario and look for characteristics outside of skills and knowledge that would contribute to successfully completing the position’s responsibilities. Write these characteristics down.
A word of warning: You have limited time to conduct your interview. Listing 20 or 30 characteristics per function might be optimal, but you won’t have time in the interview to look for them all. Limit yourself to three to five of the best, most important characteristics.