Inc.com has an article by Jeff Haden from earlier this week titled “Best Interview Technique You Never Use” that I thought offered some good advice. The article suggests that you’ll get more information and insight by simply pausing for a 5-count before moving on to the next question. Just as it is natural for you, the interviewer, to want to ask another question to kill the silence, the candidate is likely to do the same by elaborating on their response.
I know I’m definitely guilty of doing the opposite, firing question after question at a candidate immediately once I think they’ve finished their response. My rapid-fire technique results in very fast interviews that only scratch the surface. I’m relatively new to interviewing at this stage in my career, and I don’t think I’ve become particularly adept at it yet. Perhaps part of the problem is that I haven’t been listening slowly enough.
This is definitely a tip that I’m going to keep in mind as I work to become a more effective interviewer.
adamprescott.net 