Candidate Preparation Techniques

Candidate Preparation Techniques
Mark Sangerman, www.RecruiterTrainingVideo.com

Your chances of making a placement will increase dramatically if you prepare your candidates before their job interviews. Getting your candidates ready for their interviews is a commonly-used technique called “candidate preparation”. Candidate preparation happens when the recruiter calls their candidate and tells them what they can say on the interview that will impress the hiring manager. This is an important step for getting your candidates to perform well-enough on their interviews to get job offers. The most important part of a good candidate preparation is helping the candidate identify the parts of their background that will be of greatest interest to the hiring manager. This will include discussing the candidates’ strengths, their problem solving abilities, and what benefits that can bring to the company. When candidates arrive at the interview prepared to share the relevant parts of their background, they feel more relaxed and focused on saying things that will land them the job.

Here are some of the best ways to prepare your candidates for a great interview.

Candidate Preparation Tip 1

Emphasize the Positive

Take the parts of your candidate’s background that are most likely to impress the hiring manager, and have your candidate emphasize them during their interview. Since you know what the hiring manager wants based on the job order, and what your candidate has to offer, you should be able to pinpoint topics that will go over well during the interview. For example, if the job requires experience in managing small teams of people, tell your candidate to emphasize their experience managing small teams of people. By giving specific examples of how they excel as a manager, they’ll address a primary need for the job and impress the manager as qualified.

Candidate Preparation Tip 2

Provide an Itinerary

Provide an itinerary that includes the name of every hiring manager that is expected to interview your candidate. An itinerary will list the hiring managers’ names, job titles and expected interview times. Make sure the interviewers’ names are spelled correctly as candidates often refer to the itinerary for help pronouncing their names and sending thank you letters after the interview. The itinerary should also provide directions on how to get to the interview. If the interview requires traveling to another city, it should include every step of the trip from the airport to the interview and back home. Be specific so candidates know exactly where they’re going.

Candidate Preparation Tip 3

Research the Company

Advise your candidate to research the company and learn something about who they’re interviewing with. This can be done easily by directing your candidate to your client’s web site and sending them articles on the company by e-mail. During the interview, hiring managers often ask candidates what they know about their company. Candidates who have researched the company will be seen as more interested in the job than those who have not. Doing research will also help candidates develop questions they can ask the hiring manager that will ensure a two-way discussion. It will also show the manager that they value preparation, a trait the manager will want in someone on their team.

Candidate Preparation Tip 4

Keep Your Discussion Professional

When necessary, remind your candidate of fundamental interviewing tips that will ensure they create a positive impression. Your candidate should arrive to the interview on-time, be dressed accordingly and have a courteous and professional demeanor. They should also show enthusiasm for their line of work, and stay off potentially controversial subjects. In summary, keep the discussion to work matters and remain focused on explaining why they’re right for the job.