6 Tips to Avoid Costly Hiring Mistakes

Given that past experience serves as an excellent indicator of future success, behavioral interview questions offer the best opportunity for gathering beneficial information about a candidate’s leadership skills. Questions can be situation-based, asking, “what would you do if?,” or evidence-based, inquiring “what did you do when?.” Both types solicit practical and accurate data upon which to judge candidates. Evidence-based behavioral questions, in particular, make it difficult to re-author experienced history “on the fly,” thus helping to paint a truthful and detailed picture of a candidate’s ability to handle challenges.

5. Expert Interviewers are Made, Not Born

Since the face-to-face interview plays a crucial role in the assessment process, it is vital to maximize its effectiveness. Like any skill, expert interviewing technique evolves from serious study and extensive practice. It does not just happen by chance.

First, organizations must craft behavioral questions designed to elicit information that links directly to the competencies required for the position. For example, a question that asks for details on “the worst conflict you have had with a physician” speaks directly to a candidate’s conflict management skills. Probing for details, such as the cause, how the conflict manifested itself, how the candidate resolved it, lessons learned, provides extensive valuable data. It also offers an opportunity to learn the name of the doctor involved, who should be contacted for another perspective on the candidate.

Second, when discussing candidate accomplishments, interviewers should explore details beyond the accomplishment itself to learn more about how a particular project was initiated, how significant a role the candidate played, and strategies used to achieve success.  With this information, interviewers can more accurately assess candidates’ leadership qualities and actual accomplishments as well as evaluate how their leadership style fits the culture of the hiring organization.

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