Change the way you interview

Franchise owners do it all. They take care of everything from the bookkeeping to the cleaning. One large part of being a franchise owner (or a small business owner) is hiring the right people to work alongside you. Today we want to focus on one of the key parts of hiring, the interview.

Think of the interviews you’ve had. Have you ever left one feeling bored? What about disappointed that the company you were interviewing with didn’t turn out to be as great as you thought it would? On the other hand, have you ever walked out of an interview feeling so impressed that you hoped they would call and extend a job offer immediately?

As an employer seeking employees, it is your job not only to find those who will be a good fit for your company, but also to leave job seekers with the feeling that your company will be a good fit for them.

Here are a few suggestions to help you have an original and powerful interview.

Change up the locations of the interviews. Have an interview outside, at a restaurant, while driving somewhere, etc. Try to stay away from the typical “sitting across the desk interview.”

Make the interview more than just questions. Have the person being interviewed take a small test, prepare a short presentation on what they believe they will bring to the job or look over the candidate’s portfolio with them there to highlight their work.

Try out different interviewing styles. A group interview can be good to see how people interact in large groups and to compare candidates side by side. A rotating interview is kind of like speed dating. Have current employees and bosses rotate between candidates to get different opinions from a wide range of current employees. A two-on-one interview allows one person to ask the questions and the other to observe the candidate to pick up on their body language.

Be original. Even if they aren’t the right person for the job, you want the candidate to leave feeling like your company would be an amazing place to work. Be kind, intelligent and treat every candidate like they might be “the one.”

Hiring the right people is key to having a successful business. Having a strong and memorable interview will be one of your best tools. Remember, it is your job not only to find those who will be a good fit for your company but also to leave job seekers with the feeling that your company will be a good fit for them.