The rules for a better interview outcome

Candidates are not the only ones stressed by interviews. The process can be stressful for employers too--especially if you are new to recruiting or conduct interviews infrequently. Good interviewing starts with a clear vision of the role you need to fill. It also requires having an awareness of how to influence the process in a constructive, stress-free way.

Here are the five golden rules to get better interview outcomes:

• Get clarity about the role and the questions you want to ask: First develop a job description and candidate profile, then use it to write the interview questions. You can refer back to your candidate and job profiles if you need clarification during the interview.
• Use a consistent interview process for everyone: If you're feeling frazzled planning your interview, create a structure where you use the same questions and ratings for every job candidate. Using a consistent interview process turns a nervous interviewer into a confident one...