Conducting job interviews

During the job interview, use the STAR methodology and ask open-ended questions. Future behaviour can best be predicted by past behaviour. In the job interview, it is therefore good to ask for examples from the past that provide insight into the candidate's competences and skills. When giving the example, the candidate is asked to describe: The Situation, the Time, the Actions taken and with what Result (STAR). By continuing to ask questions, a kind of movie is created, in which you see the candidate acting, as it were, and you get a picture of his behaviour. Use the competency overview and questions (Username: ru I Login: rufo). Click on a competency and you will see relevant questions to ask during a job interview under ‘Expertise Questions’.

Is it your first time being part of a selection committee and/or conducting job interviews? If so, ask your HR adviser for help if required. They can, for example, join the interviews or think along with you.

Some tips:

• Use the job profile as a ‘compass’ when assessing and interviewing candidates. Use the fill-in form on which committee members can score the candidates during and after the interviews on competences, skills, experience, etc.
• Ensure that each committee member, regardless of job level, has equal input and influence in an open discussion.
• Agree on an overall time allocation. Make sure key issues are also given priority. Allow time for questions from the candidates.
• Ask all candidates the same questions.
• Candidates may formulate socially desirable or overly general answers. Keep asking. Feel free to allow silences.
• Also ask about less successful experiences.
• Observe candidates' behaviour during interviews. Does the candidate steer or follow the conversation? How does the candidate react to stress? How does the candidate deal with confusing questions? Observe on those points you want to learn more about.
• Don't let everything depend on the interviews. Also look at ‘doing’ through assignments and cases as additional selection methods.
• Take into account an (often unconscious) double standard among men and women in the search for the ‘sheep with five legs’: men get the benefit of the doubt if they possess only three out of five ‘legs’, women need to possess all five ‘legs’ to be considered.